Chapter 2: History Beginning
"Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust."
The army stood before Faust and the marionettes. They filled the largest chamber in the capital's palace, one that had been specially constructed for them - the older Fausts had given a lot of speeches to the army. It was staggering to look out at them, hundreds of men in identical helmets and uniforms and squarish dark glasses. They chanted his name over and over. It was like some kind of fascist metronome, he thought, and just about enough to drive him crazy. All of them wore the angular symbol of Gartlant on their shoulders. He couldn't help wondering how many of them truly stood by it, and how many just wore it because they wanted the job, or even worse, because they didn't want to be accused of treason.
"Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust."
He stood behind a podium at the head of the hall, with a giant flag of Gartlant behind him. For some reason, he felt like the previous nine leaders of Gartlant truly were hanging over him, watching him and waiting to see just what he was going to do. Was he going to give the people what they expected? Was he going to inspire the army to new heights by telling them that Gartlant was the strongest of Terra II's six nations, and that it was their destiny to conquer?
"Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust."
He looked out at them, at the men who were supposed to be his people, his subjects. His slaves, they might as well be. For all the history tracts he'd read, he hadn't seen a single one that talked about the individuals of Gartlant. Of all the leaders who had come before him, none of them had cared about their people, seen them as something other than tools. He'd heard that other countries treated marionettes as just tools. Both ideas pissed him off.
"Faust. Faust. Faust. Faust."
A glass of red wine sat by his right hand. He hadn't asked for it, but it was standard procedure for whenever the fuhrer made a speech. The people who ran this were so well-trained, he thought, so used to things being one way that they didn't even stop to think that the ruler might want things done differently. It was like inheriting an entire palace full of sheep. The army hadn't stopped chanting his name, so he guessed that they hadn't given any thought to the idea of someone new in charge either.
"Faust. Faust. Faust."
It was time to change that. It was time to tell them that things were going to be different now, there was a new Faust in charge. He wanted to tell them that he'd seen how things had been for the past 296 years and that he knew that he could make them better. All he needed was time and the right people. He stood taller, and looked out over the army, at hundreds of people who all looked the same. He opened his mouth to speak, but looked again, and paused.
"Faust. Faust."
This wasn't right. These weren't the people who would listen. They wouldn't give a shit. Whatever their reasons for joining the army, Faust guessed that they would rather hear that they would get to keep fighting. Proclaiming himself as the first Faust to actually look to improving the country by some other method than expansion wasn't going to go over well here. He didn't think they would even understand.
"Faust."
Faust picked up the glass of wine, then tossed it to the side, letting it shatter on the stage. The chanting died down, one by one, voice by voice. Maybe they were waiting for him to start speaking, he thought, or maybe they were wondering why he'd done that. It didn't matter; these weren't the people he wanted to see. He didn't have anything to say to them. He turned and strode off the stage, the marionettes falling into step beside him as he headed for the back door.
"Is something wrong, Faust-sama?" Tiger asked as soon as they were in the hallway that led back to the main part of the palace. "That wasn't the speech you had planned."
"That wasn't the audience I want," he said tersely. "If I'm going to give a speech about the future of Gartlant, it's going to be in front of people who actually care." He muttered under his breath. "Luchs?"
"Yes, Faust-sama?" The blue-haired marionette smiled at him, and not for the first time, he wondered just what kind of expression she was hiding behind her bangs.
"First, stop calling me '-sama.' Second, call for a car. We're going for a drive."
The black limo pulled out into Gartlant's capital city. Faust sat in the back with Tiger, Luchs, and Panther - the three of them actually sat on a seat across from him, as they argued too much about who got to sit next to him otherwise. The four of them looked out the tinted windows as they headed into the streets. He'd told the driver that he wanted a tour of the city, the whole city, the best and worst. From the driver's reaction, Faust couldn't help but wonder just how much of the city could actually be considered the 'best.' As they drove away from the palace, he had a feeling that he'd just left it.
Everything around was dark and dull, and it all seemed so coldly industrial, Faust thought as he watched the buildings pass by. Most of the people he saw looked dim and listless, gathered in small groups on corners or in alleys, standing in lines by the food vans that rationed out their daily bread. It didn't look like they got much else.
"This is depressing," Panther said after a while, though Faust caught a hint of anger in her voice. "What's wrong with these people? Can't they find something else to do than stand around?"
"Most don't have anything else to do," Luchs said. "According to the database, the army is Gartlant's main employer, second to manufacturing. Nearly everything goes toward the war." She looked over at Faust, as far as he could tell. "Expansion stopped when Faust the Ninth died, Faust-sama. All it takes is your order to start it again."
"Expansion," Faust grumbled as he kept looking out the window. "We could fit the entire population in the capital city without a problem, and they talked about expansion." He huffed. "I don't even know why people stay here."
"It seems to be mostly because of family, Faust-sama," Luchs reported. "Family and friends, or just not wanting to undertake moving. Also. . . ."
He turned to look at her, and saw that she was shrinking back in her seat a bit. "What, Luchs?"
"It's nothing, Faust-sama."
"Luchs!" He grimaced, then brushed away the hair that was falling in his face. "I told you--" He paused, then took a deep breath. "I told you, I want you to say what you want. I'm not going to hit you, or get mad at you, for telling me the truth. It's that programming again, right? The programming that makes it so you're supposed to be my servants?"
Luchs nodded, as did the others. "I'm sorry, Faust-sama, but it's something we're not supposed to override."
"It's bullshit," Faust said, more harshly than he meant to. "Sorry. But I'm ordering you to delete that programming." He glanced at Tiger. "You did that years ago, right?"
"Of course, Faust-sama," Tiger said with a smile.
Luchs glanced at the other two, looking nervous. Panther seemed unsure, but Tiger nodded. Luchs straightened herself and continued. "As I was going to say, Faust-sama, Gartlant isn't looked on highly by the other countries. People might be afraid of moving away because they might think that they won't be taken in elsewhere."
Faust growled through his teeth and looked back to the grey city. "So this," he mused, "is what they've left for me."
"What do you mean, Faust-sama?" Tiger asked, looking concerned.
"A country that wants war in a peaceful world. A place that the other countries hate. People who either join the army or do nothing. And only those who chant our name - my name - to be proud of Gartlant." He sighed, frowning.
"It stinks," Panther said bluntly. "So what are you going to do, Faust-sama?"
He turned and looked at Panther. For the first time he'd seen, she had a hard look on her face, as though she wanted to get something done. He started to smile. It was just as he'd thought - he couldn't rely on anyone else but them. If he were anyone else, he thought, he would be in trouble, as one man and three marionettes couldn't do much for an entire nation. But if that one man was the leader of that nation. . . .
No matter how much he rejected the ideas and ways of his predecessors, no matter how much he thought they'd screwed up the country or beaten down the people or run the place like it was their own personal war-toy, Faust the Tenth had to admit one thing.
He really, really liked the throne.
He was sitting in it now, the monolith with a red carpet leading up to it, listing off tasks to the small army of court lackeys he'd inherited. Most of them he hardly knew, but for them, all that mattered was that he was Faust. Any problems they had with the new ideas he was about to implement they would likely keep to themselves. He considered that for a moment, then made a mental note to hire some actual advisors, ones who weren't so well-trained.
"All right," Faust began, "take this down." He glanced over to the marionettes. "You're recording this, Luchs?"
"Of course, Faust-sama," she said. "Your wish is my command."
He glowered at her for a moment, and she smiled brightly at him. He sighed.
"All right." Faust steepled his fingers before himself, and began. "I've spent most of my life learning about how things work around here, and it's time for some changes. Some of these have already started, but I expect everything I tell you to be implemented within a month. Everyone got that?" The yes-men nodded. "Good. First, I'm disbanding three-fourths of the army. All bids for expansion or threats of war on other countries are canceled as of now."
He glanced around, and saw that some of them wanted to speak up, but didn't. Normally, he wouldn't have liked that, but right now it suited him. If he stopped to listen to everyone who said it couldn't be done, they'd turn out to be right.
"We'll be turning that part of the army into a police force and a relief force. Plans for that are already in place and they're scheduled to start forming their new groups tomorrow. We've also reset the main computer's ration allowances and everything that goes with it for peace-time, that's already going. People started receiving larger food rations two days ago." He glanced over to the marionettes. "Any word on how that plan's going so far?"
"Nothing yet, Faust-sama," Panther said, then chuckled. "Most people refuse to believe it."
Faust frowned. "Figures. Anyway. I want some new people in here," he said, tapping on the throne's armrest. "Economists, scientists, anyone who can help us get back on the right track and make it so we don't have to go to war just to keep the country going. Bring them in from other countries if you have to, but get them here. Everybody else gets by without declaring war on each other all the time, I want to do the same.
"Next, marionettes." He paused to give a smile to his three, though he had to admit that he felt they were more human than some of the people in the room. "I know they're only used around the palace, so we'll start using those ones to get people used to the idea of them being around. I want them to start spreading the word of the changes, no matter what's happening. Make sure they have all the information they need, because people are going to ask questions. I also want the marionettes accompanied by two people from the new police force. Anyone who tries to hurt the marionettes in any way is to be stopped."
"Fuhrer?"
Faust paused, surprised that one of the lackeys had spoken up. "What?"
"Do you think that's wise? Most people outside the palace think of marionettes as just for combat, they've never seen them outside of a patrol. A lot of people are scared of them."
"Really?" Faust asked with a frown. The others in the room nodded. He glanced over at his marionettes. "Why didn't anybody tell me about this?"
The marionettes looked at each other, seeming almost nervous. Faust continued to frown, and drummed his fingers on the armrest of his throne. The yes-men all looked scared, and some were holding their notes before themselves, as though trying to hide behind them.
"I'm waiting for an answer," Faust said darkly.
"We didn't . . . didn't think it was your concern, fuhrer!" one of the yes-men said from behind his notes. "I'm sorry, but you've never made any note about marionettes one way or another to us before, so I thought - we thought--"
"Hold on," Faust said, and leaned forward in the throne. "What's your name?"
The man lowered his notes, though he looked very reluctant to do so. "Hauser, fuhrer," he said nervously.
"Then let's get something straight, Hauser, same with the rest of you," Faust said, putting a hand to his chin and looking at the semicircle of yes-men. "I'm not the old man. I'm not the Faust you've been serving for however long you've been working here. I'm not going to punish you for bringing something up that I missed." He managed a smile. "I might even reward you." That should be enough to make them think differently, he thought as he leaned back in his throne. "Now, about the marionettes. If people are afraid of them, then dress them differently. Make them look . . . I don't know, nicer. Take a look at what they wear in other countries if you have to, but make it so they come off better. Got that?"
There was a chorus of "yes, fuhrer."
"Good. Next order: I know we're in bad with the other countries. I want diplomats sent to all of them - peace talks, trade deals, all of that. I want people who'll negotiate." He paused. "People with spines who'll negotiate. Just because I want to do things right doesn't mean we're going to give in." He grinned at that, wondering if it looked triumphant or evil. He remembered that the old man's grin always looked evil, and thought that he'd have to work on it to not look the same. Judging by the looks on the yes-men's faces, he guessed he was right.
"All right, that's enough for today. That should stir things up enough to get people going." He stood, pushed his cape back behind himself, then paused. "One last order." He glanced down at the advisors. "Get me a tailor, a good one. Someone from Peterburg or Romana. I'm tired of this pseudo-military crap."
He started to smile as he headed down from the throne, and grinned at the marionettes as they joined him. It was a start, he thought, a large step but only the first. There was still so much more to do. But he could do it. After all, he did have the entire country to work with. What could possibly go wrong?
"What do you mean," Faust hissed through clenched teeth, "the military's rebelling?"
"Just what I said, fuhrer," General Goddel said, his hand snapping down from a proud salute. "There were some who agreed with your orders, and some were glad to serve as police or relief workers. But it's still an army, and some of them still want to conquer."
Faust glowered, and slumped in the throne for a moment. This wasn't supposed to happen. "What've they done so far?" he asked.
"Some are attacking the food depots," Goddel began, running a finger down his long, thin mustache. "They say that the army needs food more than the common citizens, and that they're just taking what's theirs. Others are going after the police and relief workers, saying that they're traitors. We've managed to keep them from getting to the tanks, but some of my officers think it's only a matter of time."
Faust curled his lip, then straightened. "Hess!"
"Yes, fuhrer?" Hess asked, appearing out of the shadows in a corner of the throne room.
"First, stop doing that," Faust said with a glare. "Second. The military sabers, they're under my command, right?"
"An order from the fuhrer overrides all other programming," Hess said, his expression unreadable.
"Have any of the rebels made use of the marionettes?" Faust asked the general. When Goddel shook his head, Faust continued. "Give the sabers the order that they're to subdue any military dissenters. Fight them if they have to, but don't kill them." He paused. "I'll leave what to do with the dissenters up to you, General. But if any of them try anything like this again, they'll be imprisoned. Got that?"
"Yes, fuhrer," Goddel said.
"Dismissed," Faust said. "Get to it." He looked back to Hess as the general left the room, but waited until Goddel was gone before speaking. "Keep an eye on him, Hess. You three also," he said, turning to look at the three marionettes.
Panther sneered. "He's slimy," she spat. "I don't like him. Can I pull off his mustache?"
"I'm not sure you can trust him, Faust-sama," Luchs said.
"Really," Faust said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. "Why do you say that?"
"I was monitoring him, Faust-sama," Luchs said, a hint of pride in her voice. "I don't know if he was lying, but I don't think he was telling the whole truth."
"We'll protect you, Faust-sama," Tiger added. "Just in case."
"I know," Faust said with a small smile. He stood and stretched, then muttered. The past week had been grueling.
The changes he'd wanted to set into motion weren't going nearly as well as he'd thought. Sure, the people of Gartlant were doing better, from what he heard, partly because of the new food rations and partly because of the relief groups. Having a regular police force instead of just army patrols had also made the streets safer, and crime was down. At least, that was what he could tell so far, as there hadn't been much in the way of life quality surveys or crime reports for the past fifty years or so.
Relations with the other countries were starting to improve, though slowly. His diplomats had met with people from Romana and New Texas, and those meetings had gone well - trade deals were already in the making, with Romana sending over some economists and other consultants to help him get the country running differently. Trade deals were also in progress with Xian, though they'd been silent on sending any of their own people to assist. Things were still strained with Japoness and Peterburg, as those had been the countries on Faust IX's hit list for expansion. Faust still wondered what the old man had been thinking, then shrugged it off. Whatever he'd been thinking, it had probably been the fault of one of the other Fausts.
Faust headed down the stairs that led to the throne and left the room, the three marionettes by his side as always. There was still much to do. There always was, and he was starting to think that there always would be. But that was the way it had to be, to get things running the way they should.
Luchs latched onto his left arm as soon as they were out of the throne room. "You seem to be under a lot of stress, Faust-sama. Would you like me to cook you something for dinner tonight?"
"A massage would be better, wouldn't it, Faust-sama?" Panther asked, and squeezed his shoulder. "I read a book in the library that shows a technique from Japoness, you just need to lay on your stomach and I walk--"
"That's not what Faust-sama needs!" Luchs said emphatically. Faust was pretty sure that she was giving Panther a dirty look, but it was hard to tell. "A home-cooked meal will calm him and--"
Faust put his free hand to his head. "Panther, you can give me a massage while Luchs cooks. Will that get you two to stop arguing?"
"Yes, Faust-sama," the two of them said in unison.
Faust sighed again, and glanced down to see Tiger smiling at him. He smiled back. There was something wonderfully constant about her quiet affection that he still found comforting. Somehow, he knew that without the three of them, he'd never make it through the trials to come.
He was floating among the stars, staring out at them from inside a giant metal ship that sailed through the depths of space. He had a strange sense of loss, as though he was leaving something behind and couldn't tell what it was but regretted it nonetheless. There was someone with him, floating alongside him in a strange tunnel of sorts. Somehow, he knew who she was, knew it was a she, a real she and not a marionette. He tried to turn his head, but couldn't look at her. It was incredibly frustrating, like seeing something reflected in a mirror that disappears as soon as you turn to see it. He tried to force himself to turn, to see what or who he was dreaming about, and wrenched his head to the side to see-
Nothing. Darkness. Faust blinked a few times, realized that he was awake, and groaned as his stomach felt like it was rolling from one side to the other. He wasn't quite sure where Luchs had found the ingredients for her stew, but after Panther had given him a massage he'd felt obligated to eat Luchs's cooking. At least his back ached less than his stomach. He sat up, and immediately regretted it. He groaned again, and started to get out of bed, hoping he could make it to the bathroom in time.
"Faust-sama?"
He raised his head, his eyes bleary, and saw Tiger's silhouette in the doorway. For a moment, he remembered her coming for him when he'd awakened screaming after being subjected to Hess's machine. It still made him feel better to see her there.
"Are you all right, Faust-sama?" She approached the bed, but stopped a few feet away, standing ready.
"I'll live," Faust muttered, then took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his stomach. "Remind me. First thing tomorrow, I'm hiring someone to teach Luchs to cook."
"Yes, Faust-sama," she said, though she was smiling. "Do you want me to stay here?"
He started to say something, then blinked at her, realizing for the first time. . . . "You three stay outside my door when I'm sleeping?" he asked.
"Of course, Faust-sama," Tiger said with a nod. Despite it being night, she was still wearing her hat. "We sleep in shifts. We're supposed to keep you safe."
"More programming," Faust grumbled as he started to lay back down. "I told you, I don't--"
"We want to keep you safe," Tiger interrupted. Faust looked at her, surprised. "You said that you wanted us to say what we felt. This is something we all agreed on." She smiled at him. "You're very important to us, Faust-sama."
Faust paused for a moment, then gave her a weary smile. "Thank you, Tiger," he said. "You're important to me too, all three of you. Just make sure you get enough sleep."
"We will, Faust-sama."
He lay back down, and she turned and started to leave. The last thing he heard before dozing off again was her voice.
"Sleep well, Faust-sama. We'll be outside if you need us."