 |
| The Forgotten |
| Episode Forty |
| Axem Opaque was in her bedroom, reading a book entitled �Performing an Empirical Coup d'�tat for Dummies.� She was sitting on a large chair, with some candles providing the light. NOTE: �Performing an Empirical Coup d'�tat for Dummies� was on Iondross� best selling book list for the previous 13 years straight. AXEM OPAQUE (thinking): What? This book isn�t all it�s cracked up to be�My plan is way better than any of the plans outlined in here. They�re too old and used. So passe. Of course, not many people have powers as cool as mine� Suddenly the door opened and Opaque looked up. Axem Blood Knight stepped in, and Opaque quickly hid the book. He was no longer wearing the crown, but he did have a specter that illustrated his office. Blood Knight looked Opaque up and down. Then he sat down on the only other chair in the room. AXEM OPAQUE (thinking): Ha, I�ve got him wrapped around my finger�. AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Well Opaque, seeing as you�re my�advisor, why don�t we start going over some plans? AXEM OPAQUE: Plans for what? Opaque�s answer was suggestive in ways Blood Knight didn�t even realize. AXEM OPAQUE (thinking): Perhaps for your death? AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Our revenge on these �allies�� AXEM OPAQUE: Oh�that. Well, we should simply crush them. AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Yes, but they do have pretty high defenses, and if we attacked them all at once we�d leave ourselves vulnerable�. AXEM OPAQUE: Logically, we should try to do something unexpected, and something that will weaken them severally� AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Like what? I believe we could conquer Pyrodor or reconquer Aquador rather easily� AXEM OPAQUE: No, that won�t be easy as you think, it�s too predictable, and it won�t weaken them enough� AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: So what�s your great plan? AXEM OPAQUE: Let�s try to take out Bob or Diputs� AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: That�ll be much harder�. It�ll cost many lives� AXEM OPAQUE: So? Send some of the newly conquered people. They are barely part of the Empire�Their lives mean nothing� Opaque and Blood Knight continued to discuss different plans and strategies. Some they discarded immediately, some they considered for a while. In the end, only one course of action appeared to be a good response. AXEM OPAQUE: Now what should we do about that planet they freed? Losing that will seriously hurt our supply of natural resources� AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Our plan doesn�t give us a chance to conquer it again� The people are probably too scared to resist us, but the allies will protect them� AXEM OPAQUE: Are you sure? AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Almost 100%. The only thing that could possibly inspire them is Axem Peace� AXEM OPAQUE: Would she even want to fight? AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Once we prove we are going to be offensive and that peace is not an option� AXEM OPAQUE: Then we�ll just have to make sure she isn�t around once we attack� They talked about what to do involving Peace and Exoria. Once they had decided on what the plan was, Opaque continued her charade. AXEM OPAQUE: Well, we appear to be finished here� Or are we? Opaque stood up and walked to Axem Blood Knight�s chair. She touched Blood Knights arm suggestively and smiled, as is she had some secret. AXEM OPAQUE: Would your majesty like an escort back to your Royal chambers? AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: Very well� The two got up and walked out into the halls, (arm in arm) back to Blood Knight�s room. Opaque smiled up at Blood Knight, who was slightly taller, the entire way. She masked her true emotions with unmatched skill and cunning. AXEM OPAQUE (thinking): That�s right, just keep believing I�m just a foolish girl who wouldn�t dare do anything to my big, bad Blood Knight�Just wait until I have observed enough of your patterns and little habits� Opaque released a quiet laugh. Blood Knight looked down and smiled. AXEM BLOOD KNIGHT: What are you laughing about? Opaque�s grin turned to a mischievous one. AXEM OPAQUE: Wouldn�t you like to know? Blood Knight�s eyes widened, and he started walking faster� MEANWHILE: In a different section of Iondross, there was a meeting of a different nature in progress. Some Toads, a few Koopas, and even an Axem were sitting in a poorly lit room, around a small table. KOOPA #1: So Thunder Elemental isn�t really dead? TOAD #1: No. KOOPA #2: Then how was Blood Knight crowned? TOAD #1: Thunder Elemental is being held prisoner on the planet of Aquador� KOOPA #3: Then Blood Knight isn�t truly the Emperor! UNKNOWN AXEM: We just shifted from talk to treason� TOAD #2: When we accomplish our mission, Blood Knight and his supporters will be charged with treason and we�ll declared heroes� UNKNOWN AXEM: And this mission would be? TOAD #3: To rescue and restore Thunder Elemental to his rightful place on the Iondross throne! TOAD #2: Now, I know all of you were very loyal to Thunder Elemental, which is why you were called here�Now we need to figured out a way to oust Blood Knight from the throne and replace him with the true Emperor� MEANWHILE: In another of Iondross�s �Rooms of � two Axems were sitting on some chairs around a small fireplace. Their features were hidden by the darkness. One a table between them sat two copies of �Performing an Empirical Coup d'�tat for Dummies�. UNKNOWN AXEM #1: Let us plan this out carefully�We can�t let ANYTHING go wrong� UNKNOWN AXEM #2: If we fail, we�ll be executed� UNKNOWN AXEM #1: Or worse� The Quargle� Both of them shuddered. UNKNOWN AXEM #1: We should make sure to not only take out Blood Knight, but his little wretched with of an advisor� UNKNOWN AXEM #2: Got turned down, eh? UNKNOWN AXEM #1: Shut up! UNKNOWN AXEM #2: However, we do need to take her out as well� There�s a chance that she could get to ascend to the throne� UNKNOWN AXEM #1: Yes, but as Iondross law states, without someone specifically appointed to the post by the previous Empire, the assassin gets it, assuming there was an assassin� UNKNOWN AXEM #2 (thinking): I notice it wasn�t plural�I bet you�re planning to kill me! I�ll kill you first! UNKNOWN AXEM #1 (thinking): I see that look in your eye�You�re planning something� You�re going to stab me in the back! I�ll kill you first! End of Episode 40 |