On the planet Avalon, the halls of the emperor's residence trembled with his fury. News of Commander Abbadon's vile abuse of power and justice had finally reached Emperor Morris.
"Graaaaaa!!" The emperor's roar echoed through the chamber, shaking even the most stoic of his guards. His fist slammed onto the armrest of his ornate throne, splintering the gold-plated wood.
"I trusted him!" he bellowed. "And in my absence, he has the audacity to covet power and disgrace the empire!"
The emperor's breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps as anger and betrayal coursed through him. "I should never have left the kingdom in his hands," he muttered. "I must return at once. This ordeal cannot go unchecked."
A silence lingered in the room, heavy with the emperor's rage. But beneath his outward fury, another thought gnawed at his mind.
"It is also time I reviewed this war," the emperor said, his tone darkening. "Too much of it has been orchestrated by Abbadon. I should have questioned his eagerness to expand through conflict. Something about his motives feels… wrong."
As the emperor paced, his breath quickened, his massive frame visibly shaking.
From the corner of the room, Boyka observed the emperor with quiet disdain. Though he stood silent, his thoughts raged against the man he was sworn to protect.
The emperor rages now, but he is not innocent, Boyka thought bitterly. The galaxy suffers not only because of Abbadon, but because of his own greed and ambition. The blood of countless innocents stains his hands too.
Boyka's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, but he stopped himself. The time was not yet right for his vengeance.
Meanwhile, Princess Asake stood quietly at a distance, watching the scene unfold. The emperor's fury, the tension in Boyka's posture—she took it all in. Slowly, she came to a decision, one that had been forming in the recesses of her mind for some time.
"I've been nothing but a passive observer," the princess whispered to herself. "A sheltered girl sitting pretty in a palace, waiting for others to decide my fate. That ends now."
Her hands clenched into fists as determination filled her heart. "I will help the emperor bring justice to the galaxy. There's more to these events than meets the eye, and I'll uncover the truth."
Suddenly, her attendant approached her with a grim expression. "Your Highness, the name of the palace maid… the one who was harmed by Abbadon… her name is Amara."
The princess froze, her heart sinking. "Amara?" she repeated, her voice trembling.
"Yes, Your Highness," the attendant confirmed.
Tears welled in Asake's eyes. "Amara," she murmured again, this time with a sob. "I wish I had been there to protect you. I wish I could have done something to stop this."
Her voice cracked as she continued, her words laden with guilt. "And yet, here I am… touring the galaxy while you suffered in silence."
She gripped her trembling left hand with her right, trying to steady herself. But the grief in her heart was unrelenting.
Boyka, standing guard nearby, watched her closely. Though he remained silent, her pain did not escape him. His eyes lingered on her as he pondered his own path forward.
---
Later that day, the emperor's entourage journeyed through Avalon's bustling capital city. The streets, usually vibrant with life, now held an air of unease. Soldiers flanked the emperor's convoy, their eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of danger.
But no amount of vigilance could prevent what came next.
From the rooftops, a barrage of gunfire erupted. Separatists hidden in the shadows unleashed their fury upon the emperor's entourage.
"Protect the emperor, you dimwits!" Boyka shouted, drawing his weapon as bullets whizzed past. He fired back with precision, taking down several attackers in quick succession.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The cacophony of gunfire filled the air as chaos consumed the streets.
Boyka crouched behind a toppled cart, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. "I have a clear shot," he muttered.
"Do not kill their leader!" the emperor ordered, his voice cutting through the noise. "I want him captured alive. I'll see to it that he tells me who orchestrated this attack."
Boyka nodded, adjusting his aim. His rifle steadied, and he fired a precise shot.
"Bang!"
The separatist leader fell, collapsing to the ground in a heap. He wasn't dead, but he was unconscious, bleeding heavily from his shoulder.
"Secure him!" Boyka barked. Two soldiers rushed forward, dragging the incapacitated man toward the emperor's carriage.
But as the smoke began to clear, a new horror unfolded.
"Your Majesty!" Boyka called out urgently. "The princess is gone!"
The emperor turned, his eyes widening in alarm. "What?" he demanded.
"She's missing," Boyka confirmed. "The attack… it was a diversion."
The emperor's face paled. His shoulders, broad and proud, slumped as the weight of the revelation crushed him. Asake—his daughter, his pride, his only family—was gone.
For a moment, the great emperor of Avalon stood paralyzed, his grief too heavy for words. But then, summoning every ounce of strength, he straightened himself.
"Comb through the city," he commanded, his voice shaking but firm. "Search every street, every building, every shadow. I want her found. Bring her back to me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the soldiers shouted in unison, scattering into the streets to begin their search.
Boyka clenched his fists, guilt and fury warring within him. I failed her, he thought. I should have protected her.
As the emperor's soldiers spread across the city, the sky above Avalon darkened, and the winds grew colder. It was as if the planet itself mourned the princess's disappearance.
In the shadows, the conspirators who had orchestrated the attack celebrated their success. The princess was now in their hands, and the empire teetered on the brink of chaos.