Chapter Ten
0:300 Hours.
Jon was an accomplished diplomat. He felt confident that he could convince the Elder to trust Renald and to allow them to take Vigilance to find Roman.
Jon and Renald entered the palace compound and after Renald had used his particular brand of persuasion on several of the guards who refused them access, they entered the inner chamber of the palace and demanded that Chamberlain get the Supreme Ruler. They stated it was a matter of life and death, Roman's to be exact. The Supreme Ruler was furious. He had still been in the chapel meditating even at this late hour.
"What is the meaning of this!" he shouted at the Chamberlain who had interrupted him. "You know I did not wish to be disturbed for any reason!"
"Your Grace," the older man said bowing, "please forgive this intrusion, but these men insisted. They said it concerned Prince Roman! That it was a matter of life and death!"
"Your Majesty, please, I know this is highly irregular…" Renald said bowing on one knee.
"Renald, how dare you come here like this," the Elder Roman said. "You have already been dismissed from my presence once earlier this evening, and you present yourself again without being summoned. How dare you?"
"But I haven't been," Jon said, bowing on one knee as well. "Lord Roman, I mean no disrespect Sir. But I need to speak to you."
"I have not granted you an audience human."
"With all due respect Sir, I'm not one of your subjects. But as I said, I mean you no disrespect. I just want to help in any way I can to help bring Roman home safely."
"That has already been decided. I will rendezvous with Simeon at 1200 hours tomorrow and negotiate the terms for Roman's release."
"Your Grace, you must know that Simeon has no intention of releasing Roman," Renald said from a bowed position.
"Silence!" the Elder shouted.
"Lord Roman," Jon said "Please listen to me, if you ever want to see you son alive again, I'm asking you Sir, to listen for two minutes, that's all I ask." The Elder stood there for a few moments then gestured for Jon and Renald to rise.
"Speak," he said. 'But I warn you Archer, tread carefully."
Jon took a deep breath. "Lord Roman, you were once the Crown Prince, the Keeper of the Realm, correct?" the Elder nodded slowly. "Then I ask you to think Sir. Was there ever a time, ever, that you would have negotiated with a terrorist, a kidnapper or a killer? Are men like those known for keeping their word? Are men like Simeon typically known for wanting mere riches? No, they typically want something more, like kingdoms to rule, retribution, or someone's blood. Do not negotiate with Simeon Sir. You know in your heart of hearts that it's the wrong thing to do." Jon hesitated. He could sense that he was getting to the Elder.
"It's as Renald said," Jon continued. "Simeon is never going to release Roman. There is no amount of gold, minerals, precious stones that you can ever give him to satisfy him. Think about it Sir. What is it that Simeon wanted more than anything that he could never have?"
The Elder laughed a little. "He wanted to rule."
"There you have it," Jon said. "He wants the throne. He wants you to come Sir so that he can do you and Roman harm. He even wants you to bring Sienna, Don't you see Lord Roman, it's a trap."
Lord Roman thought for a moment. He shook his head. "I am sure you are correct. It is just that I was feeling so vulnerable and desperate earlier. Roman kidnapped again. Zyan having betrayed us; a third of the fleet missing, traitors. I just didn't know who to trust. I still don't."
"I understand Lord Roman. These are trying times," Jon said.
"What…what would you have me do," Lord Roman said slowly.
"Allow us to take Vigilance and the remainder of the fleet and go after Simeon," Renald spoke up.
"How do I know I can trust you?" the Elder snarled. "I trusted…Roman trusted…we all trusted that serpent Zyan and, and he betrayed us all!"
"Sir," Jon intervened. "Think! In all the years Renald has served you, has he ever once been anything less than trustworthy? Has he been anything less than honorable?"
"So was Zyan! And you and Zyan spent more time with Roman than anyone," the Elder said pointing at Renald.
"Lord Roman, I am not Zyan!" Renald said with a sound of desperation in his voice. The Elder then moved close to Renald and got right in his face blue eyes staring down green eyes.
"Alright Renald," the Elder said. "I will do what you ask. I will trust you, but not because of your words, but because of Archer's words. What he has said makes a great deal of sense and has reminded me of what it was like when I was a warrior and Protector of the Realm. I have not had to think like a warrior in a long time."
"Thank you Your Grace," Renald said bowing once more.
"Not so fast," the Elder said. "I have a condition for you." Renald rose and faced the Elder once more. "As of 1200 hours tomorrow I am holding you personally responsible for Roman's safety. And should you fail to bring my son back alive, you shall face immediate execution. Do you accept the condition?"
"Lord Roman, that is…" Jon began.
"Acceptable," Renald interrupted, then turned and exited quickly.
Jon hurried and caught up with him in the corridor. "Renald!" he called out "Renald!" Renald stopped and faced him. "Why the hell did you agree to those terms? The Elder is distressed right now. You know he isn't thinking straight. There is no guarantee we can bring Roman back alive, for all we know he's already dead. There was no need to put your life on the line."
"It is of no consequence," Renald said calmly. "If Roman dies, I have no reason to go on living." Then he walked away quickly as Jon watched him go.
Later.
Jon and Malcolm along with a selected crew of MACOs, boarded Vigilance and Renald went about gathering his crew and briefing the men that were left, those who were truly loyal to Roman and the kingdom.
After the briefing he turned to Jon. "It is good to know that you care about him as much as we do," he said, then called after one of his officers. "Get this man and his men geared up, his people are coming with us to find Roman. They will need a crash course in using the spada as well, now go!"
"At once," the young man said and ran off.
"For the kingdom," Renald said and placed his right fist over his heart.
"For Roman," Jon said, and returned the gesture.
On A Nearby Planet.
"Simeon, I am growing impatient, now let me see Roman!" Zyan demanded.
"Why do you need to see him so badly? He is fine I assure you."
"He's sick! He needs his treatments."
"Treatments. What treatments?"
"You have been gone a long time Simeon, and even before you were so unceremoniously exiled, you were not in favor with the Elder and therefore not in the loop."
"I was not exiled!" the blue eyed, blue haired Collourian said as he banged his fist on the table. "I left the kingdom of my own free will!"
"Yeah, right," Zyan said. "Anyway, Roman has been ill since he returned to Colloure. Racquesiler created a serum to treat him and it keeps him alive. Without it he will die."
"What? Die? We need him to get us onto the planet and into the palace. Then we need him for ransom and as a hostage. If he dies before hand he will be no good to us. Why did you not tell me he was ill?"
"As a royal and the King's Cousin, you would think the Elder would have kept you in his inner circle. Oh but I forgot, you were stripped of the title of Crown Prince when Roman returned, were you not?"
"That freak of nature should never have been given my crown!"
"It was his crown; you were only named the Crown Prince because Roman was presumed dead and the Elder had no heir."
"He stole it from me!" Simeon shouted. "That abomination, that demon from hell stole my crown! And for that he'll pay!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just what did you expect we would do with the False Prince after we had taken over Colloure?"
"Taken over Colloure? Simeon, the whole reason for any of this is so that those who believe the way that we do, that do not believe in the kingdom life or wish to be ruled by kingdom law, would have a place to colonize and settle for ourselves. I know that consists of at least 24,000 people, probably more. We were going to force Roman the Elder to allow us access to the riches of Colloure, the plant life, the waters, the healing properties, the natural cures. We were going to use Roman to force the Elder to meet our demands then return him to the planet."
"We are going to kill him," Simeon snarled.
"Kill him! Why, why kill him?"
"Zyan, you already know the answer to that. He is an abomination. He came back from the dead, he should be dead. I should know…I killed him."
"You… you killed him? What do you mean, you killed him!"
"Where did you think he was all those months he was missing, having the time of his life somewhere on a tropical planet perhaps? He died, I tell you, and his body was burned afterward. So you see Zyan, that thing in there, is a demon, and if there's any way possible to kill him so that he will stay dead this time, I'm going to ensure that happens."
"No!" Zyan cried out as he fell to the floor on his knees. "What Have I done? I've sold my sold to the devil, to you! I have delivered my prince into the hands of a madman! God, forgive me. I am worthy of death, death I tell you!"
"Oh don't be so melodramatic!" Simeon said with a laugh. "But if you really think you deserve death, you see to that! Otherwise, get the hell up and do what must be done!"
But Zyan just stretched out on the floor and continued to cry. Simeon watched him for a few moments more, made an exasperated sound, then kicked him as he passed the anguished man. And he lay there, well into the night.
Later.
Roman was chained to the wall in a dark place. It seemed like a dungeon, but he couldn't tell. His head hurt violently and pain coursed through his whole body. He didn't understand what had happened. All he knew was that one minute he was in a shuttle craft with Zyan on his way back to the palace, the next his best friend and confidant, attacked him. He had injected him with something and hit him over the head. The next thing he knew, he was chained to this wall. Suddenly, he heard voices, but he could not speak because he had some type of muzzle on his face.
"You wanted to see him," a voice said, "there's the great Prince Roman, or Captain Triad, whichever you chose to call him!" With that the cell door opened and Zyan was brought into the room by two Collourians that Roman recognized, brothers Phillipe and Fidal, Simeon's henchmen. They had been exiled some years ago for aligning themselves with him. The person he saw next caused anger to rise up in him. When he saw the Elder's cousin, Simeon, Roman reacted. He began to struggle against the chains that bound him even more.
The men threw Zyan into the room and he fell onto the floor in front of Roman. "Give him the damned injection," Simeon snarled, "He is of no use to us dead, now is he?" Zyan pulled himself up from the floor and took two hypo sprays out of his pocket. He slowly moved over to Roman and tried to inject him with the serum. Roman jerked away.
"It is your regular medication," Zyan said, "I swear it," as he tried to inject Roman again, but again Roman jerked away. Simeon then moved closer to them. Roman began to fight against his restraints.
"Prince Roman Imperius," Simeon said. "Cousin Roman," he mocked. "It is good to see you like this." Roman jerked at the restraints again. "Oh cousin, do save your strength. I understand that you are unwell. That is unfortunate. Therefore, I am going to allow your trusted friend, your First to give you what you need to keep you alive…for a time at least. Do it!" he said to Zyan.
Zyan could barely look at Roman, stripped down to his underwear, in pain, angry and confused. But he lifted his eyes and met his former friend's blue stare nevertheless. "Please…Roman," he said. "Let me give you your medicine. It will help with the pain…please." Roman just stared for several moments, then turned his face away from Zyan. Zyan quickly injected the hypo sprays into his neck, then slowly moved away. Simeon then moved over and faced Roman.
"I guess you're wondering what all this about dear prince. You see I need you, to help me invade Colloure. To help me get to Lord Roman, the Elder. It is all very simple. I should have been the Crown Prince. Then I would have been able to simply bide my time, wait for an opportunity to get rid of Cousin Roman the Elder. I would have become the Supreme Ruler. Then I would have established MY kingdom, the kingdom of the one that I serve." Roman struggled against the chains again, unable to speak.
"Cousin, dear Cousin, save your strength, he said raising his hand. "You see, not everyone believes in The One. Not everyone wants to see kingdom come, be governed by kingdom law nor live the kingdom life! There are other gods, more powerful gods! I serve such a god! And I will take Colloure and establish his kingdom! How will I accomplish this? Oh let me show you but a sample of his power. Followers, come forth!" He shouted. Suddenly a group of Collourian soldiers filled the jail cell, about 30 or so.
They immediately bowed before Simeon and chanted the name of their god over and over again. "As I said, this is but a sample," he said waving his hand toward the men and they quickly rose to their feet. "But there are thousands upon thousands of others waiting for my command to strike Colloure. So, as I said I need you my boy, to bargain with. Once the Elder learned of your capture, he agreed to come to uh…negotiate or trade himself for your release. I know my family well, I knew he would come. His blind love for you Roman shall be his undoing. Once he is in my custody, I will strike him in half with the spada. Then I will cut him into pieces and send those pieces to all of the planets in this system so they will know of and fear my rule."
Simeon paced backwards and forward in front of Roman as the soldiers looked on. "Oh, what of you after you have served your purpose? When I killed you before, I had your dead body burned to hide the evidence. This time I will burn a live body, and perhaps this time you shall remain dead! And that sweet little child of yours, Cierra? Santana? Oh whatever," he said getting right in Roman's face taking it in his hand and holding it. Roman jerked away.
"Perhaps I will allow her to live, raise her as my own child, then take her for my wife in say eight or ten years. Or perhaps she can be the first sacrifice to SaRu the one true god of the universe!" With that Roman began to struggle violently again as Simeon laughed a loud bellowing laugh.
"Simeon! This is madness!" Zyan shouted as he rushed this vile individual pulling at his shirt. "This is madness I tell you! You never said anything about burning him, or…or… killing the Elder! You never said anything about sacrificing a child!"
"Zyan, surely you have not been deceived by this…this creature," Simeon said. "He deserves death!"
"Spare him, please, spare him," Zyan begged. "Once we have what we need we can start over Simeon. We can begin again! There is no need to kill him. Spare him I beg of you! Spare him!" Simeon then punched Zyan hard in the face knocking him to the ground as two guards grabbed him.
"You are evil! Evil personified and I will not participate in this…" Zyan shouted.
"Then burn with him!" Simeon said cutting him off. "To the fall of the kingdom!" he shouted, and everyone cheered wildly. "To the fall of the kingdom!" they shouted over and over as Roman struggled against his chains.
Back on Vigilance.
"Major Renald," his second in command started. "We have followed the signature of the shuttle craft that Zyan took the prince away in. He docked with a ship near a small planetary system just 125,000 kilometers from here. There is a compound there with bio-signs of 224 Collourian soldiers Sir."
Renald took the padd and read over it. He then handed it to Jon, who reviewed it and handed it over to Malcolm.
"They aren't hiding," Malcolm said. "They expected us to find them."
"They know we will not risk Roman's life by launching an attack," Renald said.
"They want to use him to get to the Supreme Ruler," Jon said. "That can't happen."
"The Elder would do anything to save Roman's life, even negotiating with traitors," Renald said.
"Then we need to move quickly," Malcolm said. "They won't be expecting what we have in store for them.
"We will approach the compound with our cloaked ship," Renald said. Then we will beam in."
"But they will be expecting that," Malcolm said. "That's the usual tactic. We need to do something they won't be expecting."
"Enterprise can go in," Jon volunteered. "We can act as a decoy, open fire on the compound. Just enough to get their attention. Get Simeon's ship to chase us."
"Is your ship in good enough shape for this?" Renald asked.
"Yes, Roman did a hell of a job patching it up and with the upgrades. We can certainly handle drawing attention away from the compound where they're holding Roman. Then we can beam down to the surface and drop down from the roof inside the building," Malcolm added. "We need to engage as many of them as we can, while the other team gets Roman out."
"How many people can we put on the ground," Jon asked Renald.
"Two hundred," he replied. "That will leave another 85 crew members on Vigilance, which will remain cloaked until absolutely necessary. Simeon is no tactical expert, the plan will work."
"Then let's get this show on the road," Malcolm said. "Time to kick ass and take some names."
"Wait!" Renald said. "Before we go, we must do this."
"Do what? Jon said.
"This," Renald said and dropped to one knee. The other soldiers also took a knee. For a few moments, they stayed positioned as such, heads bowed, then they began to recite a prayer. At first Jon, Malcolm and their men looked around absently. Then Malcolm took a knee and bowed his head. Jon followed, then so did the others. When it was done they all rose in unison.
"For the kingdom!" Renald shouted holding his spada in the air.
"For the kingdom!" the men shouted retuning the gesture. Then, they all rushed out, ready for the battle.
As Jon and Malcolm raced to the transporter room as they would be going down to the planet, they were confronted by an unexpected person.
"T'Pol," what are you doing here?" Jon asked.
"I am coming with you," she replied, dressed in Collourian combat gear.
"No you're not," Jon replied. "I need you back on Enterprise."
"Commander Mayweather is perfectly capable of handling Enterprise's role in this mission. I want to be part of the away team."
"No T'Pol," Jon said. "This is too dangerous. Roman wouldn't want you to get hurt."
"Jonathan!" she said firmly, "I lost him once, I will not lose him again. You forget Commodore, I am no longer under your command, therefore you cannot stop me from going!"
Jon looked at Malcolm, then looked back at T'Pol. She had a look of determination on her face. "Malcolm," he said, "Brief Ambassador T'Pol on the plan, and give her a quick lesson in using this thing," he said holding up the deadly weapon.
"No need," she replied, "Roman has already shown me," she said holding up the spada she had taken from his room. With that they continued on to the transport pad.
Later.
Enterprise approached the compound where Roman was being held and bombarded it with weapon's fire. Simeon's ship chased Enterprise as planned and when Enterprise was far enough from the planet, Vigilance de-cloaked and attacked the enemy ship. It didn't take long for it to completely dispatch it.
On the ground, Renald's crew dropped through the ceiling of the compound and took the Collourian soldiers unawares. They engaged in hand to hand combat for several minutes and handily defeated them. It all seemed too easy.
"He's not here!" Malcolm called out on his communicator to Jon and Renald.
"What?"
"He's not in the compound, Sir. We've searched everywhere."
"You mean Simeon left all those soldiers here to die knowing Roman wasn't even here," Jon said.
"You shouldn't be surprised," Renald said. "Simeon places no value on life, and his followers will gladly give their lives for him."
"What's our next move?" Malcolm asked.
"Return to our ships," Renald suggested. "Trust me, we will know very shortly.
A Short Time Later.
Simeon and his crew had taken another ship and approached the vortex.
"Why are we here Simeon?" Zyan said.
"You should be thankful I am allowing you to even be in my presence after that pathetic performance back at the compound. But I may need you to attend to the prince in the event he has another episode before I'm done with him. But he knows quite well why we are here. Don't you dear cousin."
"Go to Hades Simeon," Roman spat with venom.
"Now Cousin, if you're going to be ugly I'm going to have to put the muzzle back on you. I took it off so you could do your thing. No need for hostility, after all, we are family."
"You're not my family and I'm not doing a damned thing you fuckin' cretin!"
"Oh my, language, language. Who knew the prince had such a dirty mouth. Let me give you a little incentive." Simeon then got up from his seat on the bridge and moved to where Roman was sitting across from Zyan. Then he took out a phase pistol and held it to his head.
"Now get up, move to the front and do what we came here to do," Simeon demanded.
"No," Roman said emphatically, looking at his cousin intently.
"Not afraid of death eh," Simeon said. "Having already experienced that particular phenomenon, I should have known." Then he turned the gun on Zyan. Roman never moved, neither did Zyan. "It was worth a try," Simeon said. "Show him," he said to his henchman.
Phillipe took a case from near the navigation station. He opened it and laid it on the floor in front of Roman.
"This dear Cousin," Simeon began, "is a chemical compound called VX9. Roman's head shot up as he looked at Simeon with an alarmed look on his face. "I thought that would get your attention. I know where I can get thousands and thousands of liters more of it. Now either you get your ass up there and take care of business or I obtain more of this chemical and release it on your precious Colloure and take out half the population within a few days. Which will it be?"
Roman was visibly angry. He closed his eyes and stared at his cousin whom he hated. "How do I know you won't do exactly what you've just said anyway," Roman asked. "You've already told me what you had planned for me and my family, why should I trust you!"
"You don't have a choice! Now do it!" With that he grabbed Roman and pushed him toward the front of the space craft. Zyan and the others watched as they had no idea what was going on.
Roman stood in front of the bridge close to the view screen right next to the navigator. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.
"What the hell is he doing," Phillipe asked Simeon.
"Shut up!" Simeon said. "He needs to concentrate."
Suddenly, Roman's body began to tremble and he staggered. He then slumped over the console. Zyan hurried to assist him.
"Get your fuckin' hands off me!" Roman said jerking away. Zyan quickly backed away. When Roman turned around, his nose had started to bleed. "I can't do it," he said to Simeon. "It's too hard and I'm too weak."
"You lying little bastard," Simeon replied approaching Roman quickly grabbing his arm. "You can and you will! You got five minutes, or so help me I'll those vials down to the palace and release them right now," he said pushing Roman against the console.
"Alright!" Roman said. Then he turned again, closed his eyes, took several deep breaths and began to concentrate. After a few minutes his body began to tremble again. Sweat began to run down the side of his face and then blood ran out of his nose again as well. Then suddenly he waved his hand in the air in front of himself in one swift motion and slid to the floor. To everyone's surprise, with the exception of Simeon, the vortex in front of them, opened.
Roman sat on the floor breathing heavily. He wiped the blood from his nose with his sleeve and the sweat from his face with his hand.
"Nicely done my boy," Simeon said. "Nicely done. It's about time you used that telepathy of yours for something other than like a two-bit fortune teller. With your gifts, it's almost a shame to have to eliminate you. Bring him," he told his subordinates and two of his men helped him back to his seat across from Zyan.
"Roman," he whispered "In all the time I've known you, I never knew you could do something like that."
"Well in all the time I've know you I never knew you could do somethin' like what you've done either you rotten, lying, treacherous, snake!" Roman replied. "By the way stop talkin' to me, don't even look at me. You're one of them, remember. You. Are. My. Enemy!"
Zyan hung his head and looked away.
A Couple of Hours Later.
Simeon's Ship was still positioned at the vortex but nothing had happened. He was pacing up and down around the bridge getting angrier. Then he finally approached Roman and grabbed him again.
"Alright Cousin, it's time to perform another one of your little tricks dear boy," he spat.
"What are you talkin' about now," Roman asked. "I opened that vortex for you, what else do you want from me?"
"I want you to tell me what's happened to my ships? What haven't they come through yet?"
"How the hell should I know?"
"Don't toy with me Roman," Simeon said. "I know you have the gift of sight." Zyan and the others looked stunned. Roman looked around at the others, then back at Simeon. "Yes, I know about that too. Oh, Commander Zyan, has the Good Prince never told you how he became so successful at protecting the realm. How he became such a brilliant military strategist? Well with telepathic ability that can move objects and second sight that allowed him to know when the vortex would open and close, he needed only to wait for ships to pass through it. Those lucky enough to make it through the nebula were at his mercy." Roman just stared at Simeon, but didn't say anything.
"Now I want you to tell me where those ships are and guide them through that nebula."
"Are you insane," Roman replied. "I can't do something like that. I may be considered a strong telepath in some circles, but my ability to move objects is tenuous at best. What I did earlier is something that happens once in a blue moon. It's not like I go around moving objects at will. And as far as the other thing is concerned that's even more tenuous. I can't see the future!"
"Look Roman," Simeon said," I'm growing tired of playing these games with you. I know everything about you, and I do mean everything. I know about your past, your present and your future, which by the way, doesn't look too bright. So why don't we cut the crap shall we?"
"All right Cousin, let's cut the crap," Roman said. "You're a telepath a fuckin' seer yourself, right? So why don't you do your own dirty work?"
"Because Cousin, we both know that when it comes to special gifts you had the lions' share bestowed upon you. At one time I even had the upper hand in the area of combat training and as a warrior. It seems you were destined to depend upon Renald to protect the realm which was your job, but then you miraculously even mastered that skill. Then one day, you surpassed your teacher. So while I possess certain talents, you are truly gifted."
"Oh boo hoo," Roman mocked. With that Simeon smacked him across the face,
"Now tell me what you see! You know I still have those vials of chemicals!"
"Your stupid ships are stuck in the nebula," Roman said with a smirk.
"Get them out!"
"Simeon, I am serious when I tell you, I can't do it. You can threaten me, threaten the city all you want. I still can't do it." Simeon looked distressed.
Then Roman started laughing, a sinister, vicious laugh. "You see something else!" Simeon shouted. "Tell me! What do you see! Tell me, I must know what you see!" But Roman just kept laughing. Simeon then hit Roman across the face knocking him from his seat. "What do you see?!"
"I see you!" Roman laughed. "I see you dead, dead," he laughed. "Seared right into, right down the middle," he said making a cutting gesture with his hand. "It's downright hilarious I tell you!"
Simeon hurried over to where Roman lay rolling on the floor with laughter and wiping tears from his eyes. He reached down and grabbed Roman by the shoulders.
"And it will be a glorious death indeed. And like you Cousin, I too shall rise from the dead. But my power shall be even greater than yours could ever be, and my rule shall spread over a multitude of planets!"
"Get your filthy hands off me you crazy son-of-a-bitch!" Roman shouted and tried to move away, but Simeon touched him on the forehead and he fell backwards onto the floor and it was as if something was holding him down for a moment as he was unable to move or speak.
"Now I need to show you something Cousin," Simeon said. It was a flash. At least that's what is seemed like to Roman, a mere flash. Then there was a strange sensation in his mind. And, then it was like he was watching a movie because suddenly, he was back on the planet surface, on the streets of Colloure; where something terrible was happening. Roman could not believe was he was seeing. It seemed like a dream but it was all too real. He could feel what was happening; he could hear it and he could smell it. He just couldn't participate in it.
He saw the city under siege, people running, trying to take refuge wherever they could. He saw fires burning everywhere and the beautiful structures in center of the city and the palace burning to the ground. People were stepping over the dead and wounded to try and get to safety while weapons fire bombarded the city from the sky. The very thing they had fought so hard for years to prevent, the thing they feared the most, had finally come upon them.
Then Roman saw his father, the Supreme Ruler himself in the Great Hall standing before his throne. But he was not alone. Simeon was there too. They were arguing. Then Roman saw Simeon strike his father with a spada. He saw The Elder fall to the ground. Roman reached for him and called out to him but no sound came out of his mouth. He saw Simeon cut his father's body into small pieces and have those pieces sent to all of the 17 planets in their system to solidify his rule in the quadrant.
Next Roman saw Simeon snatch Sienna from Kimorra's arms and spear her with the spada. He takes the screaming child in his arms and tries to comfort her. Sienna reaches for her father and calls out to him over and over but he is unable to touch her. Roman was crying and calling her name "Sienna! Sienna!" But no matter how hard he tries to reach her and how close he gets to her he can only touch her finger tips. Simeon takes Sienna as his own child to raise and later to bed as a wife in only ten years.
Lastly, Roman sees himself being burned in the fires that Simeon himself lights. He feels the heat of the flames on his skin. He coughs and begins to asphyxiate from the black thick smoke and smells the stench of burning human flesh. He is sickened by the nauseating smell, the thought and feel of his own death!
Then suddenly, in a flash, Roman was back on the floor of the ship as if nothing had happened. He was just lying on the floor, staring blankly…trembling. And there was a whisper in his ear.
"That's what I see."