.
5.
The genesis of the Emperor
When the lower hatch opens Granium bows his head and I get up from my seat, walking through the ranks of my men. I make my way up to the exit ramp, setting foot on the soil of my planet with a strange euphoria. Yet what I see is not at all what I expected.
The sky is still full of smoke caused by the explosion of the Aster, which now forms a thick mist all around. The light of the other two stars is already dim by itself, but it becomes so unbearable as it filters through the curtain of fog. It seems to be night, yet it should be morning. The only positive note is the frost that penetrates to the bones; after all, I destroyed the only source of heat of this forgotten planet.
I didn't expect much from this place, but I never thought it would make me so disgusted.
At least it's cold, I think as I make my way through the inhabitants called to my ship to pay me homage. There are thousands, arranged in two large arrays that leave a central corridor where I can walk. They watch me proceed with downcast eyes and legs trembling with cold and terror, against a hazy background in which the hills and the distant profile of a majestic building are barely visible.
They know what I've done. They know who I am. They have never seen me, but they already know me: by conquering this planet my father has already given these people a slight taste of the power of our family, even if it was nothing compared to what I can show them.
I stop at the center of the passage they have created for me, observing their faces. I can't understand what kind of aliens they are; they are truly repulsive with their large, protruding eyes, their reptilian mouths and their blue skin dotted with white patches. I spread my arms, bending me into a slight bow.
«Your new Lord greets you» I say. I could have left this task to the élite, but I want them to see me well and print my face in their little brains. «From today this planet changes its name and owner. I believe that the news has already reached you but, to be sure, I repeat it: planet Cold Number Eight from today becomes planet Frieza Number One. Aren't you happy? It's quite a qualitative leap.»
Nobody even tries to say a word.
«This means that, from today, you shall obey me and me alone.» I add. «As of today, your ruler is Lord Frieza. I hope it's clear. And now go back to work.»
No one dares to move as long as I'm around. It won't be a problem for long. I turn to go back to the spaceship, but before I get to take three steps Granium intercepts me.
«Lord Frieza, the Palace is…»
I block him with a wave of my hand before he can continue.
«I know where it is, Granium. I see it. If you're smart enough, you can notice that I'm going back.»
«Are you… are you planning to leave?» he asks me, clearly confused. His hesitations and his stammering start to get on my nerves.
«You can't think I can keep my feet on this miserable planet for more than five minutes, do you?» I smile at him. He looks doubtful.
«But, Lord Frieza…»
«Why don't you just shut your mouth and follow me as you should?»
He seems to understand. He doesn't speak anymore until I get back into the ship and sit on my throne, when I finally have a clear idea of what to do.
«I have orders.»
The elite, made up of my five trusted men, encircles me by bending in a deep bow. I peer into their faces one by one before speaking.
«What will happen now is simple. Sorbet, you and your troop shall descend on the planet and recruit the most powerful warriors that this people can offer us. Not less than a thousand. Kyui, you shall seek out the most skilled builders and engineers and bring them here. Oregan, you are in charge of supplying the ship with food and raw materials, mainly metals that will be useful in case of technical problems. Dalion, you'll lead the warriors: you can train nearby the ship. You will all go except for Granium, who unfortunately I need here. I'll wait for three days; at the end of the time we are going to leave, with or without you. Three days from now.»
«As you wish, Lord Frieza!»
With a bow all but Granium take their leave, heading towards their duties. My advisor watches them until they're gone, then looks up.
«May I ask you what are you planning, Lord Frieza?»
I smile.
«This planet offers me nothing. If my father thinks I'll be quiet here until he decides to give me another one, as Cooler does, he's very wrong. We'll go and conquer something new, Granium, so I'll expand my army. This ship alone can host up to ten thousand men but I want it to be followed by a whole fleet. The time has come for things to get serious.»
He nods. Just at that moment Dalion, followed by the first soldiers he picked up in the corridor, returns in the throne room holding something in his hands.
«Lord Frieza, you told me to tell you if he called again.»
He hands me the communicator that still flashes and I look at it, eager to answer: I've spent the past three days ignoring him, but now it's time to stop. I touch the screen and it immediately gives me the image of my father's face. Furious. I can't hold back a smile.
«Frieza!» he growls. My men take a step back, struck by the power of that voice, but I don't budge.
«Father. Welcome to planet Frieza Number One.»
«What have you done?» he shouts. «Don't tell me it was you who destroyed the Third Aster, because I won't tolerate it!»
So? Will you attack me with your troops? Will you blow me up while comfortably seated on your throne?
«With just one finger, to be exact. And I remind you that I have depowered myself.»
«Who gave you permission? How could you think it was a good idea?»
To give me permission…
«My planet was too close to that star. The temperature was too high. Come on, I'm sure that even planet Cold Number One has gotten a breath of fresh air, isn't it?»
«Frieza, I warn you. Don't you think that with five hundred men and a planet you can dare to challenge me. I don't erase you just because you're my son, but I'll not suffer another insult like that. The next call I'll make will not be a warning!»
«Don't worry, father: we'll solve the problem at its source. Have a good evening.»
I only need one movement. I throw the communicator on the ground and it shatters into a thousand shards of glass that hit us and bounce off the walls. I feel as powerful as ever, enough to challenge my father.
Finally, after so many years…
I encourage my men to proceed.
«Dalion, tell the others. One day, no more.»
I'll not give you a way to reach me. Not now.
At the end of the appointed day my army has grown out of all proportion.
Sorbet and his troop have recruited nearly one thousand two hundred warriors. Rough and unable to fly, but still very talented warriors, or so he assured me and I can't help but trust him. I gave him the task of training them in the spaceship gyms until they reach the level of my five hundred men, who returned to the ship exhausted after their training day with Dalion.
Kyui also remarkably performed his task by bringing me quite a few builders, a few hundred. That will suffice for now: I'm sure this ship is much more resistant than I think.
When I leave the planet I feel almost free from a burden. Even if my father were to take it back, I no longer need it; let him destroy it, if he wants. That stack of rocks and fog is not even worthy of being called by my name.
I summon Granium, who, as ordered, reaches me with the space map and spreads it out in front of me on the floor, like a carpet. I rise from the throne, walking on it. An ironic metaphor, in fact.
«Those circled in red are your father's planets, Lord Frieza» he points out. «Those pointed with white arrows are the weak links: planets not yet conquered, but peaceful and easy to take; however, they're very far from the System or sometimes poor in resources. Those underlined in blue, on the other hand, are more complex planets, which your father has already tried to attack but, for one reason or another, they rejected him. I recommend aiming for these only after having reached at least five, six thousand men in the army.»
My attention is attracted to precisely one of these last ones: a large, orange planet with black streaks, which apparently seems mountainous and inhospitable.
«What is this?»
«Madoria, Lord Frieza» Granium points out to me. «It's one of the most difficult planets to catch due to the resistance of its inhabitants.»
«Perfect. Tell the driver that this is our next destination.»
«Wh... what?» he starts, but immediately recomposes himself getting back on his feet. It is evident that he would like to oppose this decision, but it is even more evident that his opinion doesn't matter. «As you wish, Lord Frieza.»
He disappears through the door of my room and I can't take my eyes off that planet so attractive that it seems at least worthy of being called planet Frieza Number One. I do some calculations; if I'm not mistaken it will take us two days at the most to reach it.
Its inhabitants can be as tough as they want but this time it will be conquered, and if it doesn't, then it will disappear. I'm not like my father. I leave no trace of my defeat behind me. I always win.
I sit on the throne and close my eyes allowing myself a deep breath. For a moment my mind goes through a thought that I would not have wanted to meet, but that for some reason satisfies me: the desire that the other four ruling clans of Arcos could observe me and see with their own eyes everything they have always feared. I would like them to know that they have always been right: the power they were so afraid of is manifesting, the catastrophes they feared so much are taking place. The supreme mutant is about to become Emperor, and nobody will be able to stop me now; not even them, who were waiting for my birth, were any close to do that.
And I also wish they knew how things really went.
But those who I'm interested in telling it are providentially still alive.