Chapter IX

The next morning, Klorel still lay sleeping, but Echo had, as always, had already gotten up so that she could be dressed and ready to assist Klorel by the time he woke up. She thought she heard a noise, shouting. As she moved closer to the door that lead to the main hall, a half-dozen serpents guards burst through, shoving her out of the way. They quickly found Klorel and surrounded him, aiming their weapons directly at him. No one moved, no one spoke. The silence was sickening.

The First Prime of Apophis approached, slowly with a look of disgust on his face. Klorel spoke, "What is the meaning of this? How dare you-" The First Prime interrupted, "By order of our Lord Apophis, you are to be executed for treason." Klorel looked sickened. He didn't speak as the guards escorted him to the ring room, before his father. Apophis looked furious, truly enraged. "Fath—…" Klorel began, but was silenced by Apophis, "Did you truly think, my son, that I would allow you to command a mother ship without taking precautions to ensure that you would not use it against me!" Klorel was taken aback, "Please, father, I had no such intentions…" Apophis continued, "My servants found and reported evidence that you were planning to lead a contingent of troops against me within the next few days. I do not intend to allow my own son to usurp power from me. You have failed me again, and I will not have your incompetence shame me yet again." Klorel looked around as if hoping someone would vouch for him. Apophis laughed, "Do not be afraid, my son. I will not kill you, no, I wouldn't kill you. But I do need you out of my way. Jaffa, cree!"

More guards rushed in, surrounding Klorel, pushing him onto the ring platform. Echo pushed through the wall of Jaffa, trying to look concerned. Klorel's eyes darted from his father to her. "Yes," said Apophis, "you are to be banished to this planet, but I suppose I will allow you to bring the slave." He looked at Echo with contempt, and pushed her onto the platform, "she is, after all, the only thing you've ever succeeded with. Goodbye, my son." With this, he nodded sharply, commanding one of his Jaffa to activate the rings, banishing Klorel and Echo to the deserted surface of the planet below.