Then the Emperor continued. “That is why I need you. You are the only one of my progeny to show the guile required to leave one’s comfort zone and try to effect change. It was something that I thought would be ubiquitous, but I was wrong.
The Empire faces many challenges. If I die without a successor, there will be war, and everything I have built will be ruined. All I ask is that you kill your comrades to show your loyalty. I don’t think that is too much to ask.”
For a moment, I wondered if he was serious. His seething eyes told me he was.
“Never!” I responded angrily.
He gasped and took a step. “Are you my blood at all?”
He placed his hands on his chest. Then fell to his knees, before tumbling to the floor.
A loud siren went off, and the whole room started flashing red. Within thirty seconds, the room was full of men in white overcoats, all huddled around the emperor. My bed was pushed over to a side wall, and I could no longer see what was happening.
Then I could hear them carrying him away, and the room was silent once more.
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