Edit: I added a chapter before this to fix a continuity error I made. Sorry about that.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Cepheus knew that his advisers, heck even his own friends would call him crazy. They would say that the growing conflict within Planet FM has finally taken his mind. Why else would he hold an informal meeting with Gemini in an insecure location?

The man may be a friend of the king, but all his advisers and staff hated that cocky FM-ian. They couldn't help but think the two headed being plotted ill will towards their king. In desperate times like these, that would not stand.

Still Cepheus went to the meeting with a light escort. Cygnus, being suspicious of the FM-ian like his advisers, decided to join him for some added protection.

The meeting place was a lone building outside of the capital of Planet FM, away from any protection the king might get. This was one of the things that worried Cygnus. This entire meeting didn't sit well with him. Even he knew this was a strange request to make, though if his advisers were spying on him, he needed to know.

The escort entered first, surrounding the inside of the building to protect their king and scout out the building. Then Cepheus strolled in with Cygnus at his flank.

"So the gang's all here," Gemini said with slight irritation in his tone. He currently floated at a table near the main hall of the building as if he had been waiting for them for some time."I must admit, I'm surprised Cygnus is here. What? Are you too afraid that I'll make a move against your precious king?"

"That's enough, Gemini," the FM king stated. "Now what did you want me for?"

Both heads of Gemini seemed to stare at Cepheus at the same time, unnerving him. "Are we skipping the small chat and just getting down to business? Okay then. As you know Planet AM still stands to be a formidable threat to us and a rebellion is growing across the entire planet. If the two combine, they could destroy us all. That's why we need more power. There is a scientist in the outskirts of this region who claims he can artificially create viruses. This could prove useful in creating a gigantic army to even rival the Earthlings in size."

"That's impossible!" Cygnus weighed in. "Your Majesty, these viruses cannot be controlled. They'll only run amok throughout our planet, spelling doom for whatever order we might still possess. Gemini wants you to do this so he can use this army to betray you!"

Cepheus stuck up his hand to quiet his military commander. "You just said they couldn't be controlled, yet you also said Gemini would control them. Make up your mind Cygnus." Cepheus then turned to the two headed FM-ian. "He does raise a point, though. What proof do we have that they will work for us?"

Gemini's tone only became even more arrogant with the question. Cepheus would expect a smirk on his face if only he had one. "I propose a test then. We send them against our enemies as a test run. Obviously we can't test them out on the rebels since they are too close to us. The AM-ians would also notice a sudden surge of viruses and grow suspicious. That only leaves one other species. Humans."

"Sir!" Cygnus cried out. "That would be a breach of our neutrality towards them. They could learn from these viruses and adapt to attack us! Don't listen to this traitor!"

Cepheus remained calm and stoic. "Gemini has done nothing to hurt this country, so why do you insist on calling him a traitor. Now, at what stage of technology are the humans at?"

"The worms only discovered the net a century prior. They will be easy picking for the viruses."

"Yes, these viruses would prove very effective against the humans, sir." Cygnus began. "But you could potentially make an enemy out of the humans. They may prove formidable in numbers, especially if they are able to progress further!"

"Isn't that only the more reason to curb their power?" Gemini argued. "We must stop them from being able to master EM wave technology."

After a couple minutes of silence, Cepheus finally gave his decision. "It may prove immoral, but these viruses can be a game changer if successful. I'm going to have to allow them to be unleashed on the human world. Gemini, I want you to be in charge of these viruses. If something goes wrong, destroy them immediately."

"Yes, sir." Gemini said with his smugness showing through.

Something in the FM king's mind still kept gnawing at him, and he decided to speak up. "Gemini, what you said earlier about my advisers, was it true?"

Cygnus turned to him and gave him a weird look, but didn't say anything since it wasn't really his place to speak.

"I'm sure of it." Gemini answered.

After a moment's pause, Cepheus and his guard walked out of the building, leaving Gemini and Cygnus alone. "How were you even able to find this scientists while I wasn't?" The swan asked.

"Easy. I am better than all of your little informants and actually able to detect these things."

"I will stop you." Cygnus vowed. "I won't let you hurt the king. Whatever you were talking about before, I know you were lying. You would never help the king out of your own good will."

"Yeah, yeah." Gemini gave one last glance at the swan with both of heads before leaving the building through another exit. Things were going just as he had hoped. Now he just had to work on his pet project, Andromeda.

This must have been Cygnus's seventh report on a little upstart skull looking FM-ian who claimed to be the king of the waves. While this Crown's notion was quite intriguing and did make for a good read to Cepheus, he had to question why Cygnus was sending him so many of these reports. Did he expect Crown to become a rebel leader? The king did admit that while Crown seemed a little out of the ordinary, he did have what was necessary to lead soldiers, if only a smaller squad. It was odd though how this Crown guy always wore a crown belonging to something seen in old Earthling monarchy's, even before Earth fashion came into style. He never once tried to mimic the apparel of FM royalty. This Crown was definitely an odd one.

After reading through the report, Cepheus put his signature on it and threw it onto a stack of other papers he signed. Those were all going to Cygnus when his liaison came back from wherever she went. Now Cepheus had to read yet more troop orders. This was getting exhausting. It didn't help that he had no idea what any of it meant. Battalion 17 was moving toward the industrial sector in a defensive operation against rebel movements. What did that even mean!?

He needed to hire a new adviser that was more militarily focused. Cygnus was already head of the military right under Cepheus so he wouldn't do. He wanted a military planner, not someone to carry out those plans.

The king did remember reading a report about some FM-ian named Harp. She apparently just graduated from one of their most prestigious military academies at the top of her class if he remembered correctly. It was odd though because she was poor in actual combat. That meant that she must have been spectacular in her studies. She would make a great, if a little green-horned, military strategist. Of course there would have to be other applicants too. He wanted the best od the best after all.

Ophiuchus appeared at the doorway to the king's office. "Your Majesty," she greeted, announcing her presence to the preoccupied man.

Cepheus looked away from the latest report and turned to his liaison for the military. "Good morning, Ophiuchus. I have the latest reports to Cygnus right here." he said, motioning to the stack of papers next to him as he added one more to it.

Ophiuchus walked over and picked up the papers. "Thank you, sir. That's not the only reason I'm here though. Cygnus wanted me to warn you that just because the latest uprisings were put down doesn't mean that more won't appear. He wants you to remain vigilant and to stay in the castle for added security."

Cepheus sighed but still nodded his head. "Okay. Tell him I'll be careful. He needs more faith in people. I know how to take care of myself. In a way he reminds me of my brother actually. Both always nag me about one thing or another." Mentioning his brother brought a little bit of pain to the king's heart, but Cepheus tried not to show it as he stood up from his desk. "Anyway, I have to go to the council's chambers. It's time for the monthly meeting."

"Sir," Ophiuchus said before hesitating to continue. "You know what the people think of your brother. They want his head on a stake as soon as possible. The council will bring this up for sure this meeting."

"You point?"

Ophiuchus decided to back up a little and try to treat this conversation more delicately. "You can't just keep ignoring this issue. With everyone that has happened recently, you have to make a stand."

"And if I don't?" he inquired. "It doesn't matter what I do. Not anymore. I can set fire to half this planet and the council will still have to declare me king. With my brother gone, I have no competition. Even if he came back, the council would never give him the throne with his reputation as it is."

"The council can take this power away from you like they gave it." she interjected.

Cepheus looked her dead in the eye and with know emotion said, "No they can't. They don't have the power. At least not anymore."

It was a pretty short trip to the building that held the council's meetings. Even without using any wave roads the journey proved to be only ten minutes or so. Definitely not enough time for Cepheus to collect his thoughts. All of them focusing on his brother as of late.

If you asked him about his brother a year ago, he would've said that he held a strange sort of respect for him and that they shared a powerful, if unnoticeable, bond. This didn't mean they never had their fights though. It was almost always about politics too. Nowadays, Cepheus would be ashamed of his brother. There was no doubt that Pavo did at least some shady dealings for the FM planet to end up this way. Perhaps the only thing stopping Cepheus from ordering the capture and interrogation of his brother was their bond which was all but destroyed. Was it enough to hold back his hand?

The king entered the council's chambers as usual and stood at the lone spot in the center of the room. The council, expecting his arrival, were all silent as they waited for their temporary king to get ready for their questioning.

"King Cepheus," the booming voice announced as all the others looked towards each other. "As you know we usually talk about the economy and politics, but this time we will focus on a more pertinent matter, the growing state of unrest across this planet and the recent uprisings that have sprung up. What have you to say about this?"

Cepheus could feel the eyes from all the council-members boring into his head, and, for the first time in a while, actually felt uncomfortable under the bright light shining on him. "I think they are minor uprisings that are being put down. Nothing more."

"No great nation ever has uprisings!" one member proclaimed.

The king tried to come up with a reply, but was interrupted by another member.

"Most of the council-members agree that a outside force if fueling these uprisings," a feminine voice brought up. "Some say it is the work of the FM-ians, a rival family, or...another source."

Everyone in the room knew that another source meant Cepheus's brother but dare not say it in front of the king.

Cepheus made a point to look at the relative position of every single council-member as he spoke. "I know of these rumors. Yes, most think my brother is behind these uprisings."

All the council-members remained silent from his forwardness. "So you know what must be done?" one asked. "He must be interrogated for his part in these uprisings. In fact, I move for the council to do it personally!"

Many meek yeas came from the other council-members bar a few as they agreed with their comrade.

"I am sorry, but I can't allow my brother to be interrogated by you. It wouldn't be fair. He should be questioned by a lower court." Cepheus grounded out. Thee was no way in hell he was going to leave his brother to be burned alive by these imbeciles.

"This is the council's judgement and you must agree with it as is the king's duty! Do you wish to dishonor your family? These uprisings must be stopped!"

Cepheus didn't bother to find out who spoke. Why would he when they all hid behind cloaks of anonymity?

"Let me ask your mighty council what you guys have done to prevent future uprisings. I have spent the past couple of days working on solutions for hours on end while you just sit here and ridicule me? This meeting is done." Cepheus began walking away but was stopped by the next question.

"And what of your brother?" the booming voice asked.

"I'll put the order for his capture, but I won't go any further. You won't get your grubby little hands on him."

In retrospect, Cepheus really shouldn't have said that. That was enough to make the council his enemy. He didn't care though as he walked out of the building, hopefully for the last time. He had been thinking of a plan to go against the council for a long time. Looks line he was actually going to use it after all. If it failed though, he could very well be arrested by them. That meant he needed someone he could trust for help. Gemini seemed like a right choice.


So much dialogue in this chapter. Things shall happen soon! And because this is the FM planet we are talking about, they shall be bad things! Yeah, that's not really top secret information. Thank you to my friend Sorenalice for beta-ing this chapter. You're the best. If you have anything to say, then please leave a review!