The King of Clubs Szeer

The Betelgeuse's hangar opened up to the vacuum of space, and a flight of Albatrosses launched from its port.

Earth's premier space-to-ground aircraft was a sturdy workhorse, not as elegant as the Kanian's specifications required but impressive in its versatility and bulk. The three birds ripped through the atmosphere with folded wings, relying on their rear jets to maneuver until they reached high altitude, where their wings slowly spread wide to provide lift in the new atmosphere. They would reach Ryza in minutes.

Captain Anderson unstrapped himself from his seat and leaned in between his two pilots. "Bring us in low. I want a frontal assault."

"Yes sir. Are we attacking now?"

An excellent question, one that deserved a pat on the back. Anderson turned around and addressed the men in his squad. "Gentlemen, today we are making a first impression. Now, I want you to be loud, and I want you to be aggressive, but I want you to be professional. We're here because everyone around us is an idiot and because we protect our own. We have been prisoners for a long time, but now it's time to make our lives worth something. You have two minutes. Understood?"

The Albatrosses dropped into the world of sand and blew their way over the desert with frightening speed. The few scratches of civilization on their path got a good glimpse at the birds as they tended to their farms. From the birds' size and shape, they may have been mistaken for Raes. Anyone with a closer view of them would not have the words to describe them.

Not far from their path, Vinisnu ate as if his life depended on it.

"Easy, kid," said his Wyzzel, hesitant to lay down another plate. "Overeat, and you're just gonna get sicker."

"I don't care! I need to get better so I can stop Dad!"

"Snu," Maed said, still in the process of healing. "You have to believe in Kalin. It'll be alright."Suddenly, an ear-piercing shriek ripped over the oasis. Vinisnu and the others rushed outside and saw the metal frames bolted across the sky.

Wyzzel blinked. "They're heading toward Ryzo. Was the Captain right?" He turned to his friends and family but noted that one of them was missing. A few seconds later, they could hear a glider roar to life.

"Sam, right?" Szeer asked, leaning in to observe her more carefully. "You're…not very smart, aren't you?"

Sam winced but was smart enough to juggle it. "I only know as much of this planet as I've seen it, so maybe two weeks worth?"

"Hmm, so young. Perhaps you are an automaton."

"Perhaps? You don't seem as convinced as expected."

"Quiet." The Emperor glanced at his court. It was a strange vibe Sam felt. He held to his station as Emperor with an iron grip yet seemed giddy. Maybe he took a liking to her? Uzalu said that her father was something like a trickster god who was hard to pin down. Sam was making progress, but she wasn't sure which way.

"I'm simply saying I'm not a robot, my Lord. Your daughter and clerics can attest to that."

"I haven't heard anything. Priests, what do you have to say?"

The court turned away and feigned ignorance, something that Sam wasn't expecting. Kalin didn't respond either, but she felt his judgment on her.

"No, please," Sam turned. "Uzalu, my lady. As your servant, please tell your father about me."The young Pandemian girl glanced at her father before returning to Sam. "Uh, I know what you said, but Captain Kalin made a bunch of good points, so...I don't know?"

Sam's plan wasn't working. There was no rationality in this room nor a place for rebuttal. The court was compelled to obey Szeer and, by some extension, Kalin. She could see the man, but they saw their god.

"I'm doubting your words, child," Szeer said, voice full of apathy, but his eyes twitching. "She's clearly artificial. Go ahead. I don't care if she's flesh or not."

Sam stood her ground. "No, wait! Killing me would invoke the wrath of my empire. Your kingdom will burn for this."

Kalin grimaced. His paranoia proved correct.

"Silence!" The Emperor's voice thundered, but he was smiling. "You've done nothing but insult me with your stance! What empire do you speak of, 'Earthling'!?"

"I'm talking about the Kainian Empire, the league of humans from across the stars," Sam returned foolishly. "The ones who are watching us as we speak through our drones. If you try to harm me, they'll tear this place apart and rescue me!"

"They'll destroy Rydia?" This brought Szeer to a proper laugh. "You dare to threaten my people? My domain?"

"We came here in peace. My father hoped to speak with you, shake your hand, and welcome you like family. He's very timid, and he doesn't like to hurt others. People make fun of him for that, but I know it's because he's a good person."

"Six thousand men will do nothing against Rydia!"

"They will! You are entirely outmatched! He'll rescue me, but not because he has anything against you, your country, or even for your Devol. He'll do it because he loves me! Do you understand!?" Sam hoped her father was happy to hear those words.

Sam looked to Kalin for a reaction. There was contemplation and remorse. Her words hit him in a way he wasn't expecting and she could see tears in his eyes, an emotional weak point. 

She crossed her fingers, hoping that it worked on Szeer, too. That was her moment. She just threatened the man who could have her killed in an instant, but she prayed that an act of strength was what he was searching for. After all, he seemed happy.

"You're a spunky child, red one," Szeer laughed heartily. "If all I had to do was threaten you from the start, I should've tortured you first. Please tell me who you are and where you come from. As much detail as you can."

Kalin exhaled and stood aside, letting the two speak to each other directly. Sam recognized his mercy.

"Thank you, sir," Sam saluted. "I promise that this is very important."

Sam took a deep breath and remembered her manners. For the next twenty minutes, Sam gave the Emperor, Kalin, the whole upper echelon, and religious leaders of this nation the entire history of Earth, their meeting with Kain, the vast human empire across the galaxy, and most importantly, their future place within it. She expunged everything she could about her life, what kind of machines were in her brain, how she could speak the language, all perfect information to inform this leadership of what they were expecting.

"My father brought me here on a mission to save Pandema and bring it into the fold of wider humanity. Please excuse me for any confusion today. I'm sorry for my outburst earlier. I don't know about your planetary politics. I just know that coming here is of vital importance. Will you accept me?"

The court was silent for a while, digesting every word she had thrown at them without pause or interruption. Yapul and his gang couldn't make heads or tails out of it. Uzalu was absolutely livid. These responses didn't matter. Only the two men ahead of her had the keys to freedom."So run this by us again," Szeer said, standing and pacing the room. "You mean to tell us that there's more of us out there, humans?"

"Yes sir."

"And they have a vast array of technology that surpasses even the level of even our most despised enemy?"

"By a lot. It'll be to your advantage. My dad said Earth's technology jumped by a century when the Kainians came."

"Uh-huh. So they'll be coming here, to this planet." His eyes glanced away, pondering.

"That's right. Very soon, actually."

"How soon can you provide us with those weapons?" Szeer's brow furrowed. "How much to purchase these 'aircraft?'"

Wait, he's negotiating? "I can't tell you that we're selling weapons, but I'm sure once the Kainians arrive, no one's gonna invade anyone else."

"Yes, but I'd really like to nip this in the bud now. The kingdom is in a tense situation, so I'd rather close the chapter on Ublaneth before settling with your people."

"I can't-. I mean, I don't-."

"SZEER!" Kalin's roar exploded as static zapped across the floor and walls. He had the room's full attention. "How could you sell out your people like this!? Did you listen to her? She told you, to your face, that a billions strong empire was coming to take over our kingdom, our world, and you're just going to accept that!? Where is your pride, your duty!?"

"Kalin, enough."

"I have put everything into serving you. I leave my wife and child behind because I believed in your vision for Ryza, but I cannot fathom this monumental betrayal over the sugary words of some teenager!"

"Kalin-. Guards, take him away."

The situation was on a knife's edge from ending in an electrical bloodbath, but as furious as the Vinisoya was, he couldn't betray his Emperor. There would be time for talk later, where he would ensure Ryza's survival.

"This isn't over," Kalin said as he was escorted out of the room. Sam felt his glare in her soul.Only when he was gone, she exhaled. "I'll take Snu or Maed any day."

"Kalin is my brother, but that does not give him the power of the Emperor," Szeer imagined the struggles he'll face later, but that wouldn't be now. "I hope to meet your father soon so that we may discuss the ways of the world."

"I hope so, too." Sam smiled. She did it. She survived the trial! There were bound to be dangers lurking in the near future, but she secured her purpose, the Del to the Pandemians. It was like a dream come true. "I can't wait to see him again. There's so much I need to apologize for. I've been a real nuisance to him."

Szeer nodded. "I understand. I wouldn't trade anything for my precious daughters. I hope your father does!"

Sounds like she's still a hostage, but no matter. "But if there's one thing I hope to do, it's to introduce him to Vinisnu."

"That boy is wonderful, isn't he?"

"He is!" Sam swooned.

If only he were here. The battle had been taxing to the young girl, and her brain was mushed into a soft pudding. It was borderline tragic. She couldn't keep her promise to him, and all because of her awful cooking, but if she had one wish, it'd be for him to hug her and tell her that she did a great job. The image of his smiling face full of wonder and optimism was a light so intense it animated her like nothing had ever done before.

Sam was so flushed and full of butterflies she couldn't help herself. "To be honest, my Lord. I...I think I'm in love with him!"

"GUARDS, KILL HER NOW!"

Eight guards with halberds rushed the defenseless girl, a split second from goring her many times over when suddenly the entire throne room exploded.