Kimberley sighed.

     Sascha fumed.

     "That didn t go very well, did it?" asked the Lieutenant
rhetorically.

     "That...Insubordinate...disrespectful...bastard!" Kimberley
took a step back, sensing an impending outburst. Sascha was
about ready to explode... "Talk to *me* that way, will he?
Well..." She turned on her heel and began walking down the
hallway.

     "Where are you going?"

     Sascha's eyes narrowed. "I'm going to talk to Akfek."

     Kimberley gulped. She wondered if this had been such a
good idea after all...

*         *         *         *         *

     Akfek's throne room was dark, as per his tastes. The dim
flickering torchlight only served to enhance the darkness.
Revelling shadows danced in the chamber s corners, delighting
in the presence of one whose soul was as black as theirs...

     Suddenly, there was a creaking sound. Then, a weak beam of
light pierced the darkness, sending the shadowy spectres fleeing
back into oblivion.

     "Sascha." Akfek did not have to ask who was there.
Shade had forged their mental connection long ago. "What is
wrong?"

     She circled around the obsidian throne to face her old
friend. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?" Akfek smiled
knowingly. "Of course not..." She looked around the impressive
room. She could live like this, if she wanted to, but... "What do
you *do* in here all day?" she wondered aloud. He laughed.

     "Oh, nothing much. Plot, scheme... you know, the usual."
He grinned evilly. "But you didn't come here to get tips on
interior decorating. You're... upset?"

     Sascha nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. "There's an
officer who's been giving me some problems."

     "Go on."

     "He's insubordinate, irresponsible, irrational, unstable,
and unreliable!" Akfek arched an eyebrow inquisitively. "You
recall Lieutenant Oliver?" He nodded.

     "From Botoru Battalion. Yes... I gave him some kind of
award last month..."

     "Well, he was brutally assaulted by this maniac! In
addition, my *own* life was threatened!" Akfek s visage
darkened. "I cannot tolerate such behaviour!" Sascha realized she
had been yelling, and calmed herself. There was no need to take
this out on her friend. "Something must be done," she continued
quietly.

     Akfek rose from his seat and began to pace. "You are
correct. We shall deal with this troublemaker in our own... special
way." Sascha grinned. "Or perhaps we'll let Garek have a go at
it. So he doesn t lose his touch, you know." He chuckled grimly.
"Who is this rabble-rouser who has you so perturbed, anyway?"

     Her eyes darkened, becoming hard glittering orbs.
"Brokengulf. Lazarus Brokengulf." Akfek stopped in mid-step.
"What? What is it?" He looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I can
sense *your* thoughts too you know. And I also know that you
promoted him to General." The co-Emperor returned to his
throne and sat down, looking rather tired all of a sudden. "We
simply can't have such an unstable person in such a high
position! He has proven to be unreliable, unstable, and even
dangerous. He's already assaulted one officer... who's to say next
time that it won't be someone... a little higher up?" Akfek's eyes
narrowed as he contemplated Sascha's words. She could not know
that they had already come true... He knew that she was right. He
sighed.

     "I understand your concerns, Sascha, but..."

     She gazed at him with a stunned look. "But? There's a
*but*? I should think the solution would be very clear! Execute
him!"

     Akfek rubbed at his temples, feeling another headache
coming on. Why couldn't anything ever be easy? "The thing is,
he began slowly, "that Lazarus is a very good officer. An
absolutely *brilliant* tactician. And we can't afford to lose
someone like him. Not now."

     "Oh, wonderful," said Sascha, her shoulders slumping.
"Do you have any idea how this is going to make me look?"

     He nodded tiredly. "But there may be another solution."
She looked up at him with some semblance of hope. "I *could*
order Brokengulf to make a formal apology to Oliver."

     She pondered this for a moment, her brow furrowing
slightly. "It *would* humble him a bit, wouldn't it?" She turned
back to Akfek, realizing she had spoken out loud. "Which, if you
ask me, is just what he needs." Her eyes narrowed menacingly,
and he smiled, relieved to see her in a somewhat better mood. It
would be rather counterproductive if the Empress were to
backstab Brokengulf in a fit of anger.

     "Then that is what I will do," said Akfek, standing up
again. "And if he refuses, I will have no choice but to place a
formal Imperial Reprimand on his permanent record. I will not
allow him to show you such disrespect. You are my equal."
Sascha nodded. This wasn't the 'solution' she'd been hoping for,
but she understood the position they were in. The Empire *did*
need soldiers... The war was not going as planned... But she
banished pessimistic thoughts from her mind. It was inevitable
that they would ultimately be victorious. It would merely require
certain small sacrifices. Such as tolerating Lazarus Brokengulf.
She smiled.

     "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I don't know what I'd do
without you."

     "Neither do I." He grinned maliciously.

     Sascha sighed, relieved. "I'm glad that's done with. I hate
to leave so abruptly now, but Lady Austere *did* want to meet
with me..."

     Akfek arched an eyebrow. "Ah yes, the infamous Seyla."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, as if contemplating some new
strategy. "That reminds me. I had Garek check up on her.
Apparently she was some kind of professional mercenary; an
excellent fighter. You knew her, didn't you?"

     "Yes," she replied slowly. "Why?"

     "Quite an... impressive woman... I'm considering the
possibility of her joining our ranks... I, that is, the *Empire*
could use someone like her."

     "Well, I'm sure she'll be pleased to hear that," said Sascha.

     "She'll be wondering where you are by now," he said,
making a dismissive gesture with his hand.

     "Will I see you at dinner?"

     "Ah...I don't think so. Last night's gave me a terrible case
of indigestion." He grinned wryly. She nodded, and turned to
leave, her dark cloak swirling behind her like a living shadow. In
a rustle of cloth, she was gone. The door closed; the invading
light withdrew, returning the chamber to its rightful tenants.

     In the darkness, Akfek sat down on his throne. He called
out to the darkness.

     "Kyrrel!"

     There was a scuffling sound, then a figure appeared from
a darkened hallway. A man wearing Imperial uniform bowed to
his commander as he entered the room.

     "Yes my Lord?"

     Akfek steepled his fingers, his eyes piercing the thick
shadows, then watching them bleed even blacker darkness.
"Bring me General Brokengulf."