Chapter 95: The Highborns of Gilazonica
'Oh fuck, there is a lot of people here.' Thought the host to himself. Before him stood a crowd from several enterprises of high-profile businesses and wealthy companies of varying statuses. They came from far and wide to celebrate the annual holiday of when their people's collective governments came together and made a unifying law system, which helped to prevent another world war from ever occurring again. And as it just so happens, the Ideal Hierarch had chosen his own home to host the party to celebrate the occasion. After some fussing and planning, the host managed to set up this soiree within the main ballroom of his home, so that the bosses from the other businesses could relax and become comfortable.
The host's name was Dalzubiggatanner. Centuries ago, he inherited the satellite communication company through his father, through which he had made several strides to improve in order to connect the entire world through a global communication network. Asides from making a few electronic interactive roleplay games from several side hobbies, the host was responsible for ensuring that commands between the Anointed Authority and his soldiers had no miscommunications or miscalculations. The communication between soldiers was important to the Anointed Authority's military, after all.
However, Dalzubiggatanner had a party to attend.
His hand was raised to cut the music and bring the room's attention to himself. Once the crowd noticed their host, he began speaking. "I want to say to you all, welcome. As many of you know, this day marks the hundredth thousandth year that our glorious nations began to band together and do away with petty grudges. The consensus our ancestors made determined that war is not profit, profit is not resources, resources are not expendable, expenditure is not progress, and progress is not war. In turn, they formed what became known to us as The Priority of Uhuzhen."
One of the fatter and more finely dressed gilanians rolled their eyes. "Dalzu, we heard this a hundreds of times from your father. You don't have to repeat him word-for-word."
Dalzubiggatanner, which was nicknamed Dalzu by the portly gilanian, was staring accusingly at the portly gilanian. "Banfijjira, don't be a pest. I'm just upholding my father's tradition. Also, it's Dalzubigga to you while you are in my house."
A chuckled grunt from Banfijjira answered Dalzubigga.
The host of the party cleared his throat. "Anyway..." Dalzubigga gestured to the guests. "For every year on this day that the Priority was created, we have celebrated its inception, creation, and establishment. This had went on for a hundred thousand years, which marks this as the hundred thousandth time that we and our ancestors came together and undid our old hates and grudges, so as to continue pursuing for our own peace. So I say to you one last time, my friends, family, and business associates, welcome. Eat and drink to your heart's content. Dance to the good music. Talk amongst yourselves. Engage in activities. Become inebriated. Enjoy the party!"
Once Dalzubigga bowed down to his crowd, the guests gave him a brief applause before the music started and the festivities continued.
One person seemed to continue in their clapping as she approached Dalzubigga. It was an extravagantly dressed gilanian that wore what looked like several floating ribbons of gold, silver, copper and shimmering blue. Her head was adorned with a mechanical cover that had several ribbons flowing out from it, which made it look like some extravagant wig. Her facial features may have been feminine, but her eyes was piercing and analytical, capable of unnerving even the most stalwart person in the room. A coy smile played across her lips as she approached Dalzubigga. "My little brother, Dalzubiggatanner. You did that so well. Despite the heckler derailing you."
'Ugh. This bitch.' Dalzubigga stared at her sister and shook his head. "Volchbiggatanner. It is quite the pleasure to entertain one so esteemed as yourself. How may I serve you to better honor your gracious visit to my home?"
"And I keep telling you to call me Volchbigga. I honestly even wouldn't mind it if you called me Volch in front of my subjects." Volchbigga said as she playfully patted Dalzubigga's shoulder, which was a simple and wordless command that told Dalzubigga to follow her. "However, if it wasn't just the bureaucrats trying to kiss my tail and trying to butter their way into my stock exchange algorithm, I'd have given up on becoming the foremost leader of all business conglomerates."
Dalzubigga shook his head and rolled his eyes. "It's more like being a business leader through association..." He whispered. However, a subtle cough from Volchbigga caught his attention. "In my honest opinion, of which I mean no disrespect by, I could probably act in your role better than you ever could."
One of Volchbigga's ribbons gently slapped Dalzubigga's face as she turned to face him. "And if you weren't my brother, I would have informed The Anointed Authority about your blatant disrespect to me, and possible attempt at regicide and usurpation of my position. However, I know you better than most people, and I know you enough to understand that you're the kind that rarely ever enjoys these parties. For someone of my positions, these parties are mandatory for me to partake in."
Dalzubigga nodded. "My line of work requires much of my attention. You, on the other hand, used a computer program to calculate and keep everybody's shares in the stock market from declining, all the while continually expanding profit. Once asteroid mining became a viable business in the future, profit margins skyrocketed as new resources was introduced to the scientific community."
"let me stop you there, brother." Volchbigga hissed. "Lest you want people to figure out that it was you that listened in on their conversations, which prompted you to adjust your stocks in accordance to the materials they brought to our collective industries."
"Mm. No comment then." Dalzubigga said, not looking in Volchbigga's eyes.
"Yeah, that's right. Just stay in your corner and don't give your big sister too much sass." Volchbigga teased.
Dalzubigga sighed as he rolled his eyes. "Oh heavy is the crown..." He said half-mockingly and sarcastically. He then turned around. "Pardon me, my queen. I must see to the guests."
She sighed and waved Dalzubigga away. "Go and play then. I have other people to antagonize anyway." After sauntering away, Dalzubigga was left on his own.
Once out of earshot of the queen of Gilazonica, Dalzubigga sighed softly and looked for any bored guests to mingle with. He would consider any company more preferable to his infinitely snobby sister. At least he thought she was infinitely snobby. Not that he could point out her snobbishness aloud, or else she would have his assets liquidated and spread around to the other business and industrial conglomerates. However, providing a business that grants undeterred communication lines through cable and satellite access enabled Dalzubigga to gain many successes in trade and profit.
However, before he had the chance, one of his butlers stood in front of him and bowed politely. "Excuse me, Sir Dalzubiggatanner. Someone has called and is requesting for you. You should answer them."
'Not now, dammit.' Dalzubigga sighed and waved his butler away. "If they are from the Zaldoon Plastics corporation, tell them that they should have requested reservations to my party invites."
Dalzubigga's butler blinked before coughing once. "Uh. Sir. That is not who called-"
Dalzubigga glared down at his butler. "Zabban, if you say one more depressing word to me, I'll fire you. Let me enjoy this party in peace."
"Uhh..." Dalzubigga's butler stuttered before gulping and bowing. He then walked away with his tail tucked between his legs.
After sighing, Dalzubigga returned his attention to the party he was hosting.
Elsewhere, in triangular halls painted with several metallic chrome colors intermixing into a formless chaos, a tall humanoid creature in shifting armor plodded his fingers upon his throne of fractal metals.
This being happened to reside inside of the most powerful warship belonging to the Priority of Uhuzhen's military. It was shaped like a teardrop the size of a small moon, where its front contained several types of turrets and cannons, while the bow of the starship contained an array of thrusters that can quickly turn and pivot the ship to aim its impressive collection of weapons, or to make it speed across vast distances in a short time. It was surrounded by a fleet of other ships, each one a different shape that defines what its purpose and class was. And this lone figure, sitting upon his lonely throne, was in command of it all.
Minutes had passed before a huff emanated from this seemingly powerful figure. "Status on the phone call?"
An automated and feminine voice replied to the figure almost instantaneously. [Query detected. Our call is still being put on hold, Anointed Authority.]
The Anointed Authority slowly shook his head. "I find this highly unacceptable."
[Statement detected. It does seem like you are being ignored deliberately.] The voice answered.
"Deliberately? There must have been a good reason to put me on hold, but that still doesn't change our current situation. Ahnuanin. What is the threat level in that encoded transmission again?" The Anointed Authority asked.
[Query detected. The encoded transmission sent from the forbidden space zone has described the threat level as level 11.] The voice replied.
"Yes. And what is the number of threat levels that the Priority Protectorate Forces uses?"
[Query detected. The entire population of Gilazonica has general knowledge of the threat level classification system. The first 9 threat levels is open to civilian knowledge, while the level 10 threat level is classified. Only personnel at or above commander ranks are privy to this knowledge.]
"Which means, unofficially, there are 10 threat levels. So why classify this threat level to 11?"
[Query detected. Unclear.]
"My thoughts exactly. Have you decoded the encrypted message yet?"
[Query detected. Ongoing. My processes are incapable of decoding the entire message. The message is still requesting a response.]
"Have you calculated what the response is?"
[Query detected. I have responded to the message with twenty trillion randomized responses in total to elicit a change in the message. None so far have prompted the message to change. Theory. The message will only change when an encoded message in likeness responds to it.]
Another sigh escaped the Anointed Authority's throat as he leaned forward and drummed his fingers on his shifting face-plate. "... Okay. Let's try to step back and not overthink this. A message was sent from forbidden space. What is inside of forbidden space?"
[Query detected. Asteroid mining machines. Gas giant filtration satellites. Abandoned outposts on planetary, moon, and satellite bodies. Listening satellites situated between planetary and gas giant orbit paths. An artificial prison planet.]
"Mm. From which of these objects did the message come from?"
[Query detected. The artificial prison planet.]
"Mm. What is the purpose of the prison planet?"
[Query detected. The artificial prison planet is used for maintaining a population separate from Gilazonica law. Within the judicial system of law, in the event of insufficient evidence being provided for the accused criminals, the criminals would be put into stasis and their DNA would be copied, then sent to the artificial prison planet. Once the copy grows to match the behavioral profile of the criminal, the copy would be surveyed for any evidence which can be used against the original.]
"... Mm." The Anointed One seemed to have paused in his thoughts. "... So when we intercepted the artificial prison planet's message, we've basically interrupted what might have been a chain of self-encrypting messages."
[Statement detected. Correct.]
"Huh... So if it wasn't a priority message that contained a threat level of 11 in its description, then we wouldn't have riled ourselves to contain the message in the first place."
[Statement detected. Correct.]
"Which... Is... The reason why we're contacting the head of satellite communications. To sort this encrypted message daisy-chain going through our encrypted channels."
[Statement detected. We are here at this present moment.]
"... Fuck it. I'm solving this myself." The Anointed Authority got up from his seat.
[Action detected. Sir?]
The Anointed Authority began walking down the hall. "Prep the MEM network to deliver me to Dalzubiggatanner's place of residence. I want to meet him."
[Command detected. Requesting MEM shift transfer codes now. Pending... Request granted. MEM room awaiting transfer.]
'Stuffy suited people everywhere. Ugh. What I wouldn't give for a jacuzzi, three concubines, and some alcohol right now.'
Dalzubigga had to will himself to entertain his many guests, many of which he didn't want to get to know on a personal level. He would meet with a few of his guests, shake hands, exchange some words, politely excuse himself and explain that the other guests needed tending, and then mix and repeat to whomever else he needed to meet next. It was a skill that his father taught him, one of which that was quite useful in many scenarios. It wasn't Dalzubigga 's most favorite skills, but it was an important one still.
One patron in particular, on the other hand, continued following Dalzubigga. It was the fatter and finely dressed gilanian named Banfijjira, the one that had heckled Dalzubigga during his speech. "-So I says to your old man, 'Shocker? I hardly know her!' Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hee huh hoo her hah! Ahhh..."
A sigh escaped Dalzubigga. "Banfij, you told me that story already. I still have to meet with the other guests. Could you please-"
"So after that, I handed him the defibrillator and assisted him as he revived the poor lass. I always warned people to never eat and swim at the same time while in a body of water. The girl I was telling you about managed to choke on a deep-fried crustacean. Nobody noticed she was choking until somebody pointed it out a minute later." Banfijjira rambled.
"Yes, that's fine, but I have other people to meet. If you can just go, I don't know, THAT way, then maybe I can-" Dalzubigga urged as he pointed in a direction.
"Oh, but that's ancient history, my lad. That was probably the first time I met your old man. The second time was when we exchanged names and became friends at a local pub." Banfijjira continued without skipping a beat.
"Oh my gods." Dalzubigga was slowly losing his sanity at this point.
However, a butler quickly came up to Dalzubigga. It was the same butler that he had called Zabban, which he had also threatened to fire. "Sir! I'm afraid to tell you this, but the phone call situation has turned into something else!"
Dalzubigga's expression turn into a smile. "Ah! Zabban! Glad you can come here on such short notice! I hear that you might have some juicy gossip for Banfijjira here!" Dalzubigga immediately directed Zabban to Banfijjira.
"Uh?! B-but Master Dalzubiggatanner!" Sadly, Dalzubigga had already absconded from his butler before he could get a word in.
With a sigh, Dalzubigga proceeded with meeting with the last remaining guests he intended to meet before he sequestered himself away from the party. However, an erstwhile giggle caught him off guard before he could do anything else. Once he turned around, he saw that his older sister came to pester him again. Dalzubigga's shoulders were threatening to slump forward the moment he realized who had came to bug him again. "Oh... You again..."
Volchbigga giggled again as she stared condescendingly at him. "Little brother. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"You know, I think it just might run in our family. Isn't that weird?" Dalzubigga retorted. He then hand-waved at his sister. "Anyway, as much as I would love to entertain you, I'm afraid that my business with the other patrons in this party must be tended to. I apologize for this inconvenience."
Volchbigga rolled her eyes. "A blatant way of saying 'I don't want to be here.'"
Dalzubigga grumbled under his breath, but he knew that his sister would have caught onto his grousing. "Any reason you have seen fit to pester me, my dear sister?"
"Mm. Perhaps. I was talking with one of my girl friends and we gotten ourselves deep into our usual chitchat. However, when that conversation eventually came upon the discussion of your romantic leanings, I suddenly realized something." Volchbigga teased.
Dalzubigga groaned. "Sis, please no..." He already knew where this conversation is going.
"And so, I wondered aloud, 'Hey! How about I have my dear brother show my friends that one trick he used to do in college!' And that is how we are here." Volchbigga said with the biggest shit-eating grin on her face.
A deadpan stare answered Volchbigga. The expression slowly turned into furrowed brows and a scowl. "... Do you enjoy belittling me?"
Volchbigga shrugged her shoulders with an innocent smile. "I wouldn't be your big sister if I wasn't, you know! Now come. Your audience demands your presence."
Oh what Dalzubiggatanner would give for a distraction to lull or seduce her away from him. In fact, he silently made a wish in his head that some event or distraction could make him leave this party!
However, that distraction that he had silently wished for had in fact came. But sadly, the distraction came in a way that halted the party completely. What sounded like a loud metal clank completely stopped the music players. Before the party goers had the chance to complain an authoritative voice began to attract everyone's attention. "Attention citizens."
Dalzubigga turned around and saw who it was that stopped his party. "... Oh shit! What?!" He panicked in a shrill whisper.
Volchbigga glared at the new guest. "Who invited him here?! Did you?!" She hissed, accusing Dalzubigga.
"No!" Dalzubigga hissed back at Volchbigga.
"Well why is he here?!" Volchbigga hissed in turn.
The uninvited guest in question wore a shifting set of multicolored armor, which seemed to be projecting his voice to the crowd. Everyone immediately recognized him as THE Anointed Authority. He addressed the crowd. "I am Anointed Authority Tamurrezzulaggan, the one you have chosen to lead the Protectorate Military, the defenders of the Priority. It has came to my attention that there is someone residing within these walls that has decided to not heed my call. To remedy this, I have decided to enter this establishment and do away with this childish ignorance with due haste. Is there a person by the name of Dalzubiggatanner, the current head of the satellite telecommunications company? If you are here, I want you to please step forward and make yourself known to my presence."
"... Oh by my dad's graying hide." Dalzubigga said with dread.
"IT'S BEEN NICE KNOWING YOU, LITTLE BROTHER!"
Dalzubigga turned around and saw that his sister was already on the other side of the room, waving goodbye and smiling in her usual sly way. This surprised him. "HUH?!"
"Are. YOU. Dalzu?"
Dalzubigga paused before slowly turning to the new guest in the room. The attention in the room was divided between the host and the Anointed Authority. Most of the patrons couldn't decide whether to split the scene or stay for the fireworks and drama. Before some hesitant gulps, Dalzubigga nodded. "Uh... Y-y-yes s-s-sir. I-I-I am D-D-Dalzubiggatanner."
The Anointed Authority took slow steps towards Dalzubigga. Each clank of his boots echoed in the silent room, which filled it with tension as the cacophonous beat made everyone stand further on edge. The room became still and silent as the Anointed Authority stopped four feet from Dalzubigga. Time seemed to have stopped, but it went on for what felt like a minuscule infinity. The Anointed Authority stood before Dalzubigga for an agonizing period of time.
And it was then that Dalzubigga remembered. He slowly bowed down and stood on his knee, with his arms straight out and his palms open and free from any items within them. "It is a great priveladge for us to receive such an honored guest such as you, my lord. I must beg for your forgiveness, and for any transgressions that I had accidentally shown against you and your forces. Do what you may wish within the bounds you are granted, and know that though I may be a citizen of the Priority, I would assist and serve you, should you ever demand such a request." Dalzubigga then began to slowly rise from his extravegant bow. "How may this humble man suit your needs?"
"I demand to know why you didn't accept my call." The Anointed Authority replied.
"... Uh?" Dalzubigga felt as though this day was only going to get worse for him.
A/N: Sorry if I didn't get to expanding this story sooner. I got a little sick a few days ago.
...
...
... And um... And I MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY have discovered a webcomic called Out-of-Placers. So... Yeah...