Darkest before Dawn
Chapter 6
Retribution
It sickens me. Those that are supposed to uphold the interests of the people seek not this noble endeavor but rather their own self-satisfaction. Three more worlds have fallen to the wraith since they were first approached by the politicians. Yet do they do anything to seek retribution for loss of life? No. Instead they plot and conspire. They invite those who view us as naught more than food to treat and dine in our great city. They cover up the deaths of those who valiantly defended their worlds. They claim freak accidents for destruction of the planets. How many millions will die? How many sentinels will fall before they see their mistake?
- Amann Adar, letter to Metrinos.
Milky Way Galaxy: Outer Rim
Earth day: April 03
It took nearly an hour of somewhat cautious movement through the city, but Nex had managed to make it to the heart of the city. The many business buildings of downtown reached for the sky but all fell short of being impressive. Yet at their epicenter was a building more ornate then any of the others. Its dome decorated in an ornate lacework of gold atop polished marble. Marble columns descended to meet a stair case that surrounded its entirety. It was as though those who built it wanted all others to know that they who worked within were somehow above them.
Nex had seen many examples of this in his travels. The politicians and bureaucrats taking advantage of the people and displaying their perceived superiority for all to see. Mostly it was inferiority complex. They would never admit that they make themselves fell inferior to the man or woman that has nothing yet lives as though they have everything. They make up for this the only way they know how. Not by having less, but by throwing money in the face of those they secretly envy. Before he leaves this planet, that building will be reduced to ashes.
The city streets were still empty. Most now too scared to even peak out their windows. Yet the stench of defiance still clung to air thick and unyielding. It was a stench that could grow into a cancer if allowed to linger. He had but only 20 days to finish conquering this planet. Nothing would stop him. Even if he had to kill everyone on this god forsaken rock. He would not fail and the capital building would be the perfect stage for his victory.
Nex approached the main entrance to the capital building; a set of large double wooden doors enshrined in an elegant archway. The floors were made of Granite and a large brass emblem was set into its center. Nex merely had to look at the doors funny for them to fly off their hinges and rest at his feet as continued to the interior as though this were completely normal. Several men in uniforms snapped their weapons towards Nex and opened fire. He didn't even bother to count the number of bullets bouncing off his shield.
Though the power for it was down to only 14%, Nex continued to move unhindered. As he reached the first of soldiers on either side of the hallway Nex used his telekinesis to force them to kneel before him. The second set kneeled shortly after, then the third, and the fourth. The last 2 rows needed no encouragement and kneeled to their lord of their own free will as he passed by them. When Nex reached the receptionists desk at the end of the hall he raised a hand as though to relieve his followers. In one aspect he did relieve them; of their lives. All 12 of the soldier's necks snapped in unison with a resounding crack followed by a sullen thud of their corpses crashing against solid granite.
Nex leaned slightly over the desk at murmured, "You will get me the names and address of everyone who worked on your plasma tank project."
The pale skin of the receptionist seemed to go a few shades whiter making her freckles and scarlet hair stand out from her nearly white skin. She opened her mouth as though to say something but sat frozen in place to terrified to do anything but blink and breath. Her breath shallow and erratic as Nex removed his helmet and set it on her desk.
Nex's red eyes pierced her to the core as he stated, "Speak."
It was all she could do to just sit there and open and close her mouth like a fish before Nex leaned in gripping her long hair and tugging back with the force of his mind. The motion snapped her head up and the pain snapped her mind back to reality. The color returned to her cheeks, the liquid of her bladder spilled forth, and her breathing quickened from both fear and exhilaration.
Nex's eyes narrowed as he snarled, "I will not command you again."
She blinked several times, "I don't have access to the files you want," She flinched as Nex began to reach for his rifle and practically screamed, "this buildings power went down from your attacks."
Nex instead placed the hand on her computer screen lighting up the display as it began to boot up. She quickly logged in and began to search for what he wanted. She knew those people would be killed, but all she cared about right now was that she was alive. For how long she did not know but there was a chance she might survive. A chance, maybe not a good one, but a chance is still a chance and she would do anything to increase those odds. When the papers printed she handed them over to Nex and collapsed back into seat, tears streaming down her face.
Nex started to walk outside when Sicarius radioed in, "one group of demonstrations rounded up and waiting for you outside the front door."
Nex put his helmet back on and told the receptionist, "Call your media. Tell them to be here in 30 minutes."
The poor girl picked up her phone and did as she was told without question one last time. When she looked up she noticed Nex was gone. Every muscle went limp at once. She collapsed into a heap on the rocking herself back and forth in a heap of her own urine and worse. Yet she didn't care.
It took only a few minutes for the media craze to start. Sicarius had long since hidden herself from the reporters that had swarmed like flies to the carcass of dead animal. Every single one of them was terrified, but could not resist pull of higher ratings. The media would serve Alesia well in its pursuits of bigger paychecks and perceived status. The purpose that Nex had in mind for them was to spread terror to the hearts and minds of the citizens. They would show every single one of the public executions. The population would eat it all up while secretly hating themselves for watching it.
They would swear retribution; they would swear revenge. Yet they would do nothing. They would not know whom they could trust and as such would report their neighbors without a second thought. Each and every one that might survive would survive only on the blood of their brothers. For the survivors would seek to claim a higher status and would do anything for it. Such is the way of humanity.
All of the people rounded up were lined up along the highest step of the capital. This would literally and figuratively symbolize their falling from grace. Nex new Amann would expect high casualties on the enemy side. He always did. He would not send Nex if he did not want bloodshed. Nex thrives in combat. He drinks chaos and feasts on darkness. He is the death bringer.
Once all of the cameras had been set up Nex went up to first captive and asked the man a simple question, "what have you done wrong?"
The man just stared blankly out into space as Nex moved to the next person in the line and asked the same question. All of the responses were the same. Even the few people that had bothered to answer had no idea why they were all there. None of them really new each other and only a few had even seen another in passing. Yet they were all guilty of the same crime.
With the charade of asking the peasants their crimes he looked towards the nearest camera and told them, "all of you. All of you are guilty of treason. Under Alesian law, using Alesian military tech without express permission from the Alesian High Council is illegal. You are all guilty of this fundamental crime. Whether you like it or not your lives are in my hand. As the marital dictator of this planet it is under my discretion who does, and who does not pay for these crimes."
A man ran towards the stage but was held back by an unseen force as he started yelling, "let my daughter go. Please. She is with child. Surely the child is without sin. Please! I will take her place."
Nex took his staff in one hand and motioned for the man to walk up the steps. Every step he took was with fear and pride. He knew he had saved his unborn grandchild. He was an old man. If there was only one thing that he could do with his life it might as well be this. Each step was both easier and harder. It was harder to advance towards your known death. Yet it was easy to give up your life for your family. As he reached the top the unseen force held him in place and the pregnant woman tried to leave but was unable.
The man cursed, "you filthy bastard! who do you think you are!? You…"
Without looking at him Nex simply stated, "I am High General Nex Ado of the Alesian Battlefleet. Imperator of the Empire. The Wolf of Alesia, Commander of Carnage, Destroyer of Systems, Bringer of Death, Bane of Existence, and my personal favorite, The Wrecker of your Shit. I never agreed to let anyone go, but if you want to plead guilty for your crimes who am I to deny you death?"
Nex held the tip of the staff a few inches over the ground and tapped it lightly on the ground. A thin red line appeared across the throats of the captives before their bodies slumped to the ground below their floating heads. Blood, crimson and thick sprayed over the light granite and ran down the steps in a small stream towards the nearest gutter. The look of shock on the faces of those present was well worth the trickery. What they don't know is that Sicarius was actually the one who decapitated the victims. His power is far too raw, too primal for something so precise. Yet they will never know the truth.
Nex turned back towards the cameras and coldly stated, "Today your blood has been spilt and stained the ground and the streets red. Anymore acts of rebellion and this petty stream will be river."