"Yes, my Empress?" Elijah stepped into their Leader's chamber.
"I see you have recovered." A raspy, metallic voice echoed through the halls.
"Of course. The medical facilities are well equipped." He answered with a smile.
"I was informed that such an injury would take almost two months to heal." The voice spoke slowly.
"Indeed it would. But apparently, my previous encounter with their kind has given my body the means to repair itself more quickly." Elijah's smile dropped immediately.
"I did not give you permission to make use of the cloning chambers. Such insubordination is worrisome, given your previous disobedience. I did not give you permission to raid the Sea of Blood. I did not give you permission to attack the Triad. What should I make of this?" The Empress hissed.
"I suppose that is understandable. Assuming that you have anyone else who knows Mat like I do…I will be perfectly happy to step down and let them take over." Elijah smiled mockingly, this time with a hint of knowingness to his voice.
"Just because you have done great service to the Drakon in the past, it does not give you freedom to do as you please!" She retorted angrily.
"And you have been a Drakon for what…ten years? I have led our race into battle of over twenty centuries, you insolent bitch!" His voice grew loud and even angrier.
"INSUBORDINATE LITTLE LIZARD! I AM THE EMPRESS OF THE DRAKON! IT IS I THAT GIVES OUR KIND A FUTURE!" She roared, the entire room rumbling from the sheer force of her voice.
"YOU ARE A FOOL! DELUDING YOURSELF INTO SELF-IMPORTANCE! IT IS I THAT GIVES US A FUTURE!" Elijah drew the pistol, glowing with orange energy, and fired into the darkness.
The Empress lit up into fire as her huge draconic body was scorched by the powerful energy blasts.
"TRAITOR! BLASPHEMER! GRAHHHH!" The Empress screamed, her entire body burning much like Elijah's did.
What remained of her was a hulking shell of superheated metal, her head lifting up feebly to look at him as he approached her.
"Y-You…have…ruined…everything…but why?" She whispered, golden blood pouring from her mouth.
Elijah's spear appeared in his right hand as he tossed away his gun.
"I am the past, present, and future, Empress…while you are only a memory." He answered quietly and drove the lance into her skull.
He walked slowly away from her burning body, not uttering a sound.