AN ILLUSIVE REIGN: A DEATH NOTE/MASS EFFECT/STAR WARS STORY
Author's Note: Thanks to ProtagNeptune of SpaceBattles for pointing out that I hadn't given ol' Jack the Death Note yet!
1 - A Black Book For Cerberus
The boss, the agent, and the shinigami stared at the Death Note. The first of those three had picked it up, a conversation had ensued, and now they found themselves here.
The boss, Jack "Illusive Man" Harper, was thinking of opportunity. He had been listening intently to every word this Rem had said, and she (for it insisted it was feminine) had made a believable claim about this Death Note. Of course, a notebook that could kill human beings was not a believable claim under ordinary circumstances, but the presence of Rem made it clear that these particular circumstances were anything but.
The agent was thinking of danger. This demon had already been fired on several times by the security at the Illusive Man's space station headquarters, and nothing had seemed to even faze it. As a demonstration of power and proof of concept it had written one of the guard's names down in its own Death Note, and Andrew Duran had died of an instant brain aneurysm. She had NO idea how to assess this threat.
And Rem, of course, was thinking only of curiosity. Human supremacists who were intelligent and had a clear ideological agenda? This would certainly be interesting, as Ryuk was fond of saying.
"So, now that you know what it does, what will you do with it? Actually, I believe I know: further the cause of Cerberus and Humanity, in that order."
"The interests of Cerberus and humanity are one in the same," Miranda replied.
"There's no need to feed me propaganda," Rem replied, disdain clear. "I'm not on your side or anyone else's. It's simply a matter of luck that you picked up this Death Note."
"Charming," Miranda replied, returning the disdain in equal measure.
"Regardless, we thank you for this opportunity," the Illusive Man replied. He was feeling a bit more generous. "Feel free to avail yourself of any of the services of this station. I will be rather busy, but I know how to entertain guests."
"That would be appreciated. Do you have any physical books?" She quickly learned to specify "physical" when visiting these sorts of realities and/or time periods.
"A tome?" Harper replied, then smiled. "I am fond of them as well. I will instruct my agents to lend you my copies of the complete Sherlock Holmes. Barnes & Noble Classic paperback, early 21st century, and in good condition. You'll have to use a machine to read it, but the display will be clear."
Rem frowned, but she supposed that was the best compromise she was going to get. "Very well."
-ain-
"We are pulling all funding to the Lazarus Project."
"You don't want to use the Control Chip option, sir?"
"No. If anyone can find a way to break it, or convince someone else to remove it, it's Shepard. I don't want X factors. Not where we're going."
"If you're certain, sir."
"The decision has been made - I have found something far more useful than Shepard. Cremate the body and place the ashes at the Normandy crash site. It's a fitting tomb."
"Right away!"
-air-
To Alliance Command,
Cerberus has two items of interest to raise to your attention:
1. The body of Shepard was located by Cerberus agents. Regrettably, the body had been deformed by the vacuum of space and was not in suitable condition to be returned to the Alliance. Accordingly, we have cremated the body and placed the ashes at the crash site of the former Normandy after a small ceremony. You may do what you wish with the ashes, but we feel this is a fitting resting place.
2. Humanity will rule the galaxy. This is not rhetoric: we have obtained a device capable of killing anyone who dares to oppose us. For a demonstration of our strength, we invite you to witness the fate of Matriarch and Councillor Tevos.
-air-
ADMIRAL STEVEN HACKETT: And Matriarch Tevos died right after we received this email?
PRIME MINISTER: Within two minutes, admiral. She died while speaking to the Council of Matriarchs remotely from the Citadel. Everyone says she just suffered some sort of spasm and collapsed and died. Her advisor was next to her, said it all happened in less than ten seconds.
HACKETT: Jesus…so the Illusive Man isn't lying. We're at his mercy.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
2 - Hostile Takeover
Taking out a pen, the Illusive Man quickly wrote the following into the Death Note:
Aria T'Loak
-air-
PATRIARCH: So, I'm in charge of Omega now?
ILLUSIVE MAN: Indeed. And you will be a…test case, of sorts.
PATRIARCH: A test case for what?
ILLUSIVE MAN: For the rebirth of humanity under a more enlightened government.
PATRIARCH: Humanity? You know there are other species on Omega, right? We're not just going to lay down and die.
ILLUSIVE MAN: We're not going to kill any of you. In fact, Omega will mostly be let be. It's a useful place. But we do expect Cerberus agents to be untouchable on all the station.
PATRIARCH: Reasonable. Very well, I will spread the word that humans are to be left unharmed.
ILLUSIVE MAN: Excellent. One more thing.
PATRIARCH: Yes?
ILLUSIVE MAN: They won't be Cerberus agents for much longer.
PATRIARCH: I figured as much. Nobody kills Aria as smoothly as you did without big plans. Glad you didn't kill me. Smart of you, as well.
ILLUSIVE MAN: I knew you would be useful. I like to think of myself as a good judge of character, after all.
PATRIARCH: I'm glad to hear it be said that I'm useful again. I always have been, but Aria did not value my talents.
ILLUSIVE MAN: And I can assure you I do.
-air-
Mark loved coming to Omega. Nutra was indifferent. Teyi…
Teyi didn't know how to feel as an asari visiting this place. It was…humbling? Was that the right word? It was English, but it seemed fitting. Everywhere else the merchant traders went, asari were usually treated with respect. They were the first to discover the Citadel, after all - the grandmothers of the galaxy. Here, though? Here on Omega it was humans who were given their due.
"This place never gets old." Mark was jubilant, as he usually was here.
"Gee, I wonder why." Sarcastic but affectionate - typical of his mate.
"Come on! Let me have this!"
"Quarians don't have some place they get treated especially nice. But yes, dear, of course I'll let you have this." The two embraced, their mild argument nothing more than a playful game.
"Omega is…" Teyi found herself saying out loud.
"Is?" Mark prompted.
"…different," she finally said.
He laughed. "You can say that again," he replied agreeably.
"No, not like that." She pointed to the nearby soldier, one of Cerberus'. "Have you noticed those guys have become a lot more common?"
"Actually, yes." Nutra's interest was piqued. "It's almost as if they're acting like Migrant Marine Law Enforcement, or the Systems Alliance guards at Arcturus."
"You know, now that you guys mention it, this place has been weirdly safer," Mark chimed in. "Teyi, have you had to kill anyone coming here in the last few months?"
"No, which is-"
"Unheard of," Mark and Nutra said simultaneously.
Teyi thought for a moment. "We should leave this place, and soon."
"If you say so," Mark replied. "Though now that I'm really thinking about it…well, as nice as it is for me, there is something else going on here."
-air-
REM: Your plans are quite interesting.
ILLUSIVE MAN: Do you approve?
REM: I approve of your intelligence and perceptiveness. Morally, I neither approve nor disapprove. It would take far worse than what you are doing to raise my ire.
ILLUSIVE MAN: Out of curiosity, how far would I have to go?
[shudder.]
REM: There was one…a bald man, who thought himself a Roman Emperor reborn. He created an empire of slavery and rape.
ILLUSIVE MAN: Barbaric! I can assure you the women of my future domain will be well-respected. Sexism is archaic.
REM: I am glad to hear that.
3 - Shadow Games
The "Big Three" mercenary leaders never met one another due to their mutual hatred, and ESPECIALLY not in person. But something had caused great concern.
Well, "panic" was more like it, and even that was too mild a word.
-air-
BLUE SUNS LEADER: We have to do something!
ECLIPSE LEADER: Thanks for pointing out the obvious.
BLUE SUNS: I'm serious!
BLOOD PACK LEADER: So are we. The Illusive Man needs to die, and fast!
[monitor turns on.]
ILLUSIVE MAN: I don't think that's going to happen.
BLOOD PACK: YOU! Gutless varren!
ILLUSIVE MAN: Watch your mouth.
BLOOD PACK: You kill without blood! Without honor!
[laughter.]
ILLUSIVE MAN: Do not tell me you would not do the same if you possessed such a weapon! In any event, it is irrelevant. I know all of your names, and you will do EXACTLY as I say.
BLUE SUNS: Good thing nobody knows my actual name then.
[pause.]
[DEATH: aneurysm.]
ECLIPSE: WHAT THE FUCK?!
BLOOD PACK: HOW? HOW DO YOU DO THIS?!
ILLUSIVE MAN: Well, I suppose the truth is as believable as any fiction: I traded half of my remaining lifespan for the ability to see the names and lifespans of anyone whose face I see. Which means I can kill all of you, but I won't. You're more useful as an army.
ECLIPSE: How the -
[EXECUTION: ECLIPSE LEADER.]
BLOOD PACK: I'm in charge of all three groups now. Tell me your offer.
ILLUSIVE MAN: It's an order, not an offer. You're to be incorporated into Cerberus as the Non-Human Infantry Division. And in one month's time, Cerberus will cease to exist.
BLOOD PACK: What's happening? Are you idiots compromised?!
[laughter.]
ILLUSIVE MAN: Just the opposite. We are invincible. And soon all the galaxy will belong to the human race, and you will be citizens of the Empire of Humanity!
BLOOD PACK: …well, I suppose that's better than the Council.
ILLUSIVE MAN: That's the spirit! Tell your soldiers to be ready for incorporation. You are not mercenaries anymore. You are soldiers with a purpose. MY soldiers.
[transmission cut.]
-air-
Jack Harper smiled as the Cerberus ship lowered him down onto the roof of his newly constructed palace on Virmire. It would be a PERFECT place for the ceremony.
He would not execute the Council, as he had heard those in other realities had. No, he had more…
…fitting plans for them.
-air-
To the Shadow Broker,
I am not so arrogant as to think I can identify you or your location. Instead, I would like to treat with you respectfully.
As of next week, you are hereby the Minister of Espionage of the Empire of Humanity. I expect full access to any information that does not threaten Imperial security.
In return I will not interfere with your operations as the Shadow Broker. Extortion and blackmail will continue to exist in the Empire, as one named after my species could never create a society completely free of either. I do expect them to remain at manageable levels.
Do we have a deal?
…
We do. I will hold you to your end of the agreement.
4 - Humanity, Fuck Yeah!
The ships of the Systems Alliance plowed through the Citadel Relay instantly, with almost zero advance warning. Together they were more than enough to capture the Citadel "temporarily".
Admiral Steven Hackett grinned. In truth, after discussing things with the Parliamentary Cabinet, he was feeling more comfortable with this. They weren't going to enslave or murder the non-human races. They were "just" going to secure the galaxy on behalf of humanity. And the Reapers that they all knew were coming were not going to be an issue, thanks to the Illusive Man's haunting red eyes.
"To the people of the Citadel!" Hackett began. "This is Admiral Steven Hackett of the Systems Alliance. We are hereby annexing the Citadel on our behalf. To mark this new occasion, we hereby proclaim the dissolution of the Citadel Council and the Systems Alliance, and the formation of the Human Empire!"
He was surprised at the volume of the cheers on his ship at the proclamation. But maybe he shouldn't have been. This wasn't going to be the Illusive Man's vision wholesale, after all; they were going to mostly leave everyone alone. But there were going to be some adjustments - MAJOR ones.
-air-
Councilor Irissa did her best to look dignified as she was led away in chains. It was hard, especially when they informed her of her fate. There were things worse than execution…
"Well, well, well." Her diplomacy dike burst open and she glared death at the accursed Illusive Man. No, Illusive "Emperor" now. UGH!
"I hope you enjoy your new accommodations, Irissa."
And so the last three Citadel Councilors became indentured servants of the Emperor at his palace on Virmire, the Terminus regional capital, made to serve Him as the lowest when they had once been the highest. The Emperor did not abuse them, but neither did he treat them with even the smallest modicum of respect: they were kept in conditions suitable for imperial prisoners and afforded not a single luxury beyond that.
Irissa lived two more centuries before finally and mercifully dying.
-air-
MARK: It's weird.
NUTRA: What is?
TEYI: All of this, obviously. None of it feels right.
MARK: Yeah, you'd expect an Empire of Humanity to be anti-alien, but they seem to be treating you guys OK.
[scoff.]
NUTRA: If the rumors on the Migrant Fleet are true, that isn't by choice of the Illusive Man. That's all from what was once the Systems Alliance.
TEYI: Either way, I'm just glad the "Three Musketeers" were able to find an apartment together!
MARK: Same here!
NUTRA: And here. Good friends among aliens are hard to come by for quarians. Let alone lovers…
MARK: Heh…
TEYI: Get a room, you two!
MARK: We've got one!
TEYI: Then get to it!
MARK: Yes ma'am!
-air-
REM: I enjoy Virmire.
ILLUSIVE MAN: It is a lovely planet, isn't it? I do so prefer it to the Citadel. The latter is too crowded.
REM: So, what comes next?
ILLUSIVE: Next? Next we awaken that Prothean we found.
5 - Out In The Open
"They had a WHAT?!"
Javik could barely process the sheer amount of shocking information that he had been flooded with when the biotic transfer with Jack Harper was initiated. Instant death due a magical book? An Empire of Humanity with him as the Emperor? And a PROTHEAN VI ON THESSIA?!
"A Virtual Intelligence created by your people," The Emperor confirmed. "They did very little useful with it."
"But you…these eyes…" Javik was at a loss for words for the first time in his life.
"Are all we need to win. Which is why you need a new purpose."
Javik started to say something, then stopped before speaking again. "What purpose did you have in mind?"
"We have learned much from Vendetta. Among other things, that you are - were - the Avatar of Vengeance."
The Emperor grinned viciously.
"How would you like to be the Avatar of Survival? The last Prothean, to be used by our Empire whenever we need the greatest soldier to lead us. We do not now, but I can assure you we will. I am not stopping at this galaxy. Eventually I believe humanity is destined to rule the entire universe, and I want to do it with The Last Prothean by my side."
"You are very persuasive," Javik remarked. "Very well. If what you say is true - and I have no reason to doubt it given what I saw - I will embrace the Survival Avatar."
Javik blinked all four eyes and move slightly closer to the Emperor. The latter motioned for his guards to relax.
"But first I will see the Reapers die with all of my eyes."
"That can easily be arranged," the Emperor replied agreeably.
-air-
The Death of the Reapers is hardly even worth mentioning. With shinigami eyes, it was simply a matter of sending a live feed of every single Reaper ship to the Emperor of Humanity and All Species. The Emperor considered keeping Harbinger alive as a pet, but the dangers of indoctrination instead meant he kept the Eldest's death for last.
Truthfully, the Illusive Man regretted the death of such a large source of technology and ideas after learning more about the Reapers, or "Ascended" as they insisted on calling themselves. But he had become good and coaxing information out of Rem, and one night she had let slip that there were other realities, and other Illusive Mans - most of which ended their lives as indoctrinated Reaper puppets.
He would NOT let that happen to him.
And the show of force seemed to have been a good start. Very few questioned the Reign of the Emperor after the mass machine death, though he needed some ice on his right hand after writing down the names of so many Reapers.
Now came the consolidation phase.
-air-
EMPEROR: Until we meet again, Javik.
JAVIK: Wake me when you need the finest warrior your Empire can field.
"We will."
6 - The Battle For The Galaxy
5000 years later…
THE IMPERIAL CREED:
"…although the Empire was founded as the Empire of Humanity, all species are now equally inferior to the Harper Dynasty. Humans and non-humans both exist to serve the glory of the Emperor…"
-air-
EMPEROR HARPER OF ALL SPECIES XXXI: So, these Aka'Ven have refused to accept our rule.
ADVISOR: Yes, your majesty.
HARPER XXXI: A pity. They would have made excellent partners of the Empire of Harper. Initiate the Discipline Order.
ADVISOR: At once, Your Majesty.
-air-
3 years later…
The Union was lost.
Here, on the glorious homeworld of Vek'Ak, the enemy had surrounded them. No amount of propaganda could disguise the truth: the Empire of Harper had laid them low.
And it had all happened in less than five Vek'Ak years! The humiliation was galling. The glorious Aka'Ven Union spanned five dozen stellar systems, and they had crumbled in the face of the Empire! Few could bear to read the military reports that indicated the war should have ended sooner than three years, and only lasted longer because the Empire of Harper had been prolonging it for propaganda purposes.
So the Assembly of Elders met one final time for the ceremony that all of them had been dreading. Ner'Yet Dashar, the elected Speaker of the Assembly, knew her name would live in infamy for all eternity due to the document she was about to sign. But with Imperial ships bearing down on the homeworld, all were aware of how precious little choice they had in the matter.
"On behalf of the Aka'Ven Union, I hereby surrender to the Empire of Harper."
All of the Aka'Ven present bowed their heads - a disrespectful gesture that the general in charge of the proceedings would protest later. But the Assembly simply felt that it had to be done.
And so on the dreaded day the independence of their species died, and the Aka'Ven Region of the Empire of Harper was born in its place. In truth their material lives would be quite pleasant, but their dignity would never recover - just as Harper intended.
-air-
HARPER XXXI: Does it get tiresome? Being with the Empire for so long, through so many Emperors?
REM: I thought it would, but it does not. The shinigami realm, after all, is FAR more boring.
7 - Into The Unknown
88 years later…
AKA'VEN SCOUT: Your Majesty.
HARPER XXXII: Scouting report.
SCOUT: We have found an unusual device located in the Lawson system.
HARPER: All alien devices are unusual. Why did you feel compelled to call the Emperor Himself?
SCOUT: Your majesty, it is an extremely advanced piece of technology that does NOT rely on Element Zero to operate.
[pause.]
HARPER: Explain.
SCOUT: We have concluded it is some sort of probe. And stellar dating has made it clear that the device is ancient…perhaps older than the oldest human civilization.
HARPER: That…is indeed a cause for concern. You were correct to bring this to me. Now, can we trace where it came from?
SCOUT: Yes, your majesty. It is from an extremely distant galaxy that will take approximately seven thousand, one hundred standard years to reach with current technology.
HARPER: Then I'd better get to work on a generation ship.
SCOUT: Your Majesty?
HARPER: You heard me. Our Empire runs the risk of being stagnant in the aftermath of its galactic dominance. This sort of…diversion is exactly what we need to keep ourselves sharp.
SCOUT: As you say, Your Majesty. I will contact the Extraterrestrial Affairs department.
HARPER: See that you do.
-air-
All of the Harpers smoked. Though they were genetic clones of one another, they displayed slightly different personalities once they were brought out of the test tubes and into the real world. But all, from the first to the thirty second and current, enjoyed smoking cigarettes.
Rem wasn't a fan.
"I am curious as to why humans enjoy smoking those," Rem remarked for what was probably the thousandth time.
"Why do you think?" Harper had made that reply almost every time; the followup was always slightly different. "It is relaxing, and feels good."
"Most have cannabis for that."
"Yes, we gathered as much from the security feeds in the smoking room. We're glad you enjoy our official supply. Don't question my vices and I won't question yours."
"Fair enough." She silently thanked Gabriela Lopez, probably her favorite Death Note owner, for introducing her to pot.
Sometimes she thought it was the only thing that got her through dealing with Harper.
8 - To The (Really Far Away) Stars!
7482 years later…
"Any idea what we're looking at?"
"Not yet, sir. We've got all our technicians working on identifying the ship type."
"Work faster!"
Utupau Imperial governor Andrew Duran did not like surprises. He chose an assignment on this backwater planet precisely because he did not want to be surprised. So all of these large ships of unknown design suddenly appe-
"Well, isn't this interesting!"
His confusion multiplied exponentially as a human, what appeared to be a middle-aged man with pale skin smoking a cigarette, appeared on the screen.
"I've no idea how humans found themselves in this galaxy," it continued, "speaking a different language, serving under a different empire."
"There is only one Empire, that of our mighty Emperor!" Governor Duran interrupted.
"That's where you're wrong." The man grinned and produced some sort of rectangular object from a ship compartment. "For this is the future of the Empire, and we have brought our mightiest weapon to defeat you."
As the human made some sort of strange motion with its hand, Andrew Duran continued to fume. How DARE this upstart primitive human question the authority of-
"ERROR: CATASTROPHIC SHIP FAILURE. COLLISION DETECTED"
-air-
Emperor Harper the Frozen continued to grin as the ship of the late Governor Andrew Duran of Utupau was quickly destroyed, taking the nearby space station with it.
Andrew Duran - Ship malfunction caused by collision with nearby space station
"Interesting," Rem remarked. "So the first kill in a new galaxy is a creative one."
"I have a feeling we're going to need to be creative to deal with these humans."
Something about this galaxy unnerved Harper the Frozen. But he did not regret being chosen for this mission, nor being given the responsibility of wielding the Death Note. The latter had been an intensely debated decision, but the reign of the Empire of Harper in the Milky Way was secure. This place was not secure, it was terribly unknown. And the Death Note specialized in dealing with the unknown.
Mainly by killing it.
-air-
Javik woke.
"So, the day has come again."
"Indeed it has."
9 - The Force
The Emperor and his Apprentice were both disturbed. Not because the Force had been disturbed along with them, but because it hadn't.
"This…Death Note…the Force has not foreseen it." The Emperor sounded concerned. He NEVER sounded concerned.
"Indeed it has not, my master," Vader replied neutrally. "It is my duty to find out who created it and destroy them."
"And how will you do this?"
"I will speak to my old Master."
The Emperor's eyes flared. "We cannot work with the Light!"
"My master, I sense this Death Note is a danger to all the Force. Do you sense that as well?"
Ordinarily Vader wouldn't dare consider speaking out of turn like this, but this situation was unprecedented and he didn't feel too bad about it.
NOTHING had ever been encountered like the Death Note before. It simply moved through existence, making no impression on the Force as its dreaded magic worked. The Force remained neutral, dormant almost, in areas that the Death Note was regularly used.
The Emperor and Darth Vader frequently argued, but the latter felt no need to object when the former ordered him to Dantooine. It was a quiet place - one where he could speak to his once-Master's Master.
It would not be a pleasant conversation.
-air-
Dantooine
"You are a Sith," the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn said, making sure the contempt was felt on the fourth word of the sentence as he spoke. "Why should any of us do anything to help you? You only came to me because you knew Obi-Wan would never speak with you."
"The object I speak of threatens all of the Force," Vader replied calmly. He was not here to re-litigate past decisions. "Both those loyal to the Light and the Dark can be eradicated with this Death Note."
"Then why are you still alive?"
"The Frozen Emperor respects me."
The ghost of Qui-Gon did something Force spirits rarely did: laughed. "Respect?! Why would any-"
"Save me your outrage," Vader interrupted. "The Frozen Emperor is ruthless, and would align himself with the Dark were he one of us. He does not want myself dead."
"And the Emperor?"
"The Emperor will never leave Byss again."
-air-
EMPEROR PALPATINE: How DARE you speak to me this way! I am the EMPEROR OF THE GALAXY!
EMPEROR HARPER THE FROZEN EMPEROR: Not for long.
PALPATINE: Such arrogance. I will educate you.
[DEATH NOTE: Galactic Emperor Palpatine]
[DEATH: aneurysm.]
HARPER: And thus a new era begins.
10 - The Great Galactic War
The four-eyed alien with the strangely crested head was rapidly becoming a boogeyman among Imperial loyalists. When the Death Note did not kill them, the terrible rage of Javik the Survivor did.
For biotics - or anything similar to it without the aid of the Force - were entirely alien to them. Thus the first Dark Jedi who found herself crushed to death against a wall was considerably confused as she died.
Terror quickly engulfed the rest. The biotics could be overcome with enough force, but the Death Note was used via a remote feed that the Emperor (who, like all Emperors, had agreed to trade for shinigami eyes) used to assist Javik. Truly the latter disliked the convenience and lack of honor in essentially being unstoppable, but the final living Prothean supposed it could have been worse.
The Galactic Empire crumbled, laid low by the unstoppable might of a supernatural weapon not of the Force.
-air-
"How is this happening?!"
Juno Eclipse wished desperately that she had not signed up to join the Empire. It was NOT a good line of service at the moment.
"I don't know," she said helplessly. "Everyone just keeps dying!"
"And WE KEEP LOSING PLANETS!" Moff Tarkin was enraged, but thankfully was not directing it at her. "No matter how long we-"
As with many Imperial officers, both Juno Eclipse and Moff Tarkin died immediately and in mid-sentence. The Frozen Emperor was watching them, and chose to end their lives on what he saw as an amusing note.
-air-
It was much the same throughout the rest of the galaxy.
The non-humans were nearly unanimous in their celebration, the biggest complainers being the in the business (and bounty hunting) sector. Everywhere but Coruscant, celebrations were constant.
The Wookiees celebrated the longest. At long last the horrid monsters that had defiled their homeworld and enslaved them as a "reward" for their unceasing loyalty were DEAD! Many stormtroopers were ripped limb from limb; few Wookiees felt like being merciful to the defilers, and few outside Kashyyyk objected to the treatment.
The Imperial loyalist planets treated the situation with resigned acceptance. Only Vardos and Anaxes managed to successfully rebel, and for their loyalty were subject to the full wrath of Operation Cinder. All accepted the rule of Harper after that episode.
All except Coruscant, that is, which the Frozen Emperor was saving for the very last.
-air-
EMPEROR HARPER THE FROZEN EMPEROR: I do wish I had developed a better sobriquet.
REM: After dozens of the same Harpers with an additional numeral, I for one am pleased with the update.
HARPER: Yes, that reminds me. Do you know what is happening in our home galaxy right now?
REM: No. Frankly, I did not feel it important to learn who in the Milky Way would die and how.
HARPER: Hmph. Well, we shall see once Coruscant has been taken.
-air-
A/N: Juno Eclipse and Moff Tarkin have slightly different roles in this world due to plot divergence.
11 - The Annexation Of Coruscant
Coruscant was unlike anything that any human from the Milky Way had ever seen.
For although the achievements of the Empire of Harper were extremely impressive, the galaxy far, far away from theirs had simply been at space travel for eons longer. And Coruscant, the very heart of galactic civilization, reflected the ancient age of said civilization.
Harper was in awe of the planet-wide city, which seemed so much more impressive when compared to the pale shell that was the rebuilt Taris. Here the awe and splendor of the past had not been buried and lost, but gloriously continued all the way to the present.
It was a shame that a lot of it was being reduced to rubble because of the former Galactic Empire's stubbornness.
"Vader has been identified!" Someone screamed at him from behind. "It's Anakin Skywalker, the father of Luke!"
"Well, there's a surprise," Harper muttered.
Taking out a pen, he quickly wrote the following into the Death Note:
Anakin Skywalker, currently known as Darth Vader
Forty seconds later everyone paused.
The battle that had been raging abruptly stopped. A powerful silence persisted across the entire planet for more than ten seconds, with many realizing that something extremely powerful had just died even if they had no idea what.
For those near Vader, they would never forget seeing his lifeless body where a powerful Sith Lord had been moments before.
The Frozen Emperor felt it was a pity, especially compared to what Vader could have been by his side. But there was simply no place for dissent among the galaxy's new ruler, even moreso than the previous ones.
-air-
The former Galactic Senate chambers had survived intact - the Frozen Emperor had seen to that personally.
And so on that day the Galactic Empire ceased to be, replaced by the Empire of Harper, the Frozen Emperor.
The descended clones of Harper were nothing if not VERY well-accomplished.
12 - Educating The Subjects
NAL HUTTA CRIME BOSS: You can't do this!
HARPER IMPERIAL OFFICIAL: We can, and we will!
CRIME BOSS: I will have you killed, I will have your whole family killed!
OFFICIAL: Then we'll cut off your filthy tail and force your disgusting Hutt ass to eat it.
[pause.]
CRIME BOSS: Excuse me?
OFFICIAL: Did I stutter? We have no patience for your stupid games. The galaxy belongs to us now, and "the galaxy" includes Nal Hutta. You will comply with the new imperial directives, or you will die. You're not negotiating this, so don't bother asking.
CRIME: Bullshit! We are the RULERS of Nal Hutta! You have to right no-
[DEATH: aneurysm]
EMPEROR HARPER THE FROZEN EMPEROR [via hologram]: Well, that was disappointing.
OFFICIAL: Too many hutts have refused to see reason, your majesty.
EMPEROR: Then we will continue to educate them on the new state of the galaxy.
-air-
OBI-WAN KENOBI: This makes little sense to me. As strange is it is to say it, you were not responsible for these events.
DARTH VADER: Thank you, Obi-Wan. It is a pleasure to see you again as well.
OBI-WAN: My disappointment in you has not lessened. But with both of us departed from the mortal plane, we have more pressing concerns.
VADER: Such as the violation of the Force.
OBI-WAN: A strange term, "violation", but it seems the only appropriate one.
VADER: Have we learned any more about the properties of this Death Note?
OBI-WAN: Only that it is not of the Force. Any attempts to sense or reach out to it are rebuffed, often violently. There is…something protecting it from both Light and Dark.
VADER: Is it related to the Demon?
OBI-WAN: Possibly, but the Demon CAN be felt by the Force…none of this makes sense.
VADER: It seems that whether or not it makes sense is secondary to its actual effect.
OBI-WAN: On that we agree. I pity the Jedi that must go up against the Death Note.
VADER: It is not a dignified way to die, I assure you.
OBI-WAN: Less dignified than being killed by your former apprentice?
VADER: Far, far less.
Epilogue: To The Stars Once Again
30,000 Years Later…
The Imperial Station [Citadel]
The Milky Way Galaxy Imperial Officer smiled and nodded his head as he handed over the officially sealed document to his Frozen Galaxy Imperial counterpart.
"And so, after tens of thousands of years, we are happy to finally welcome our brothers and sisters home!"
The cheers were deafening, and the celebration would last for a solid week. The rule of Harper now spanned two galaxies, and all were his subjects.
It was a glorious day for the Harper dynasty.
-air-
OBI-WAN: This place…it is not of the force.
PALPATINE: Indeed. I never foresaw anything like this…"Imperial Station".
VADER: Nor did I foresee the presence of humans.
OBI-WAN: It is good that those of our galaxy finally made their way here. We have much to investigate.
PALPATINE: And an eternity of time to do it in!
VADER: It is strange to consider we were once enemies.
OBI-WAN: On the subject of Light and Dark, I will maintain my eternal disagreement with the both of you. But against all odds, this accursed Death Note keeps us aligned all these years later.
PALPATINE: A strange turn of events.
VADER: But an inevitable one.
-air-
SHINIGAMI KING: Your…extended stay…is becoming an issue.
REM: I cannot control the actions of the humans, King.
SHINIGAMI KING: Still…it has lasted…long enough. They will…keep the Death Note…but not you.
REM: As you command, King.
-air-
As she predicted, Rem was not necessary to secure the reign of the Empire of Harper.
And so the descendants of the one once known as the Illusive Man secured galaxy after galaxy for the Empire, subjugating all who stood in their way.
-air-
20 million years later…
The Universe belonged to Harper.
-air-
Isolation is making my works longer! Cool! :D