Chapter 32: Reshuffling the Deck
The next morning, Emperor Tiberius arranged to meet with his executive council in the town hall. On his way there, he encountered hundreds of technicians and many of the remaining Downs residents. They continued to angrily boo at him. His imperial guards shielded him as he rode on his chariot between them.
When Tiberius entered the town hall, the nine executive council members rose to their feet. An imperial guard stood in each corner. These imperial guards were not wearing their helmets.
‘Glad all of you could make it on such short notice,’ said Tiberius as he sat in his place.
‘Colin’s not here,’ said Lendall.
‘Colin is no longer a part of this executive council,’ replied Tiberius in an agitated tone. ‘He, like so many others, has decided to betray our Empire.’
‘If he’s a traitor, so is this punk here!’ shouted Duffo as he pointed at Henders.
‘That’s a completely unsubstantiated claim,’ said Miro firmly. ‘Henders is one of the most hard-working, dedicated, and loyal technicians I’ve ever worked with.’
Henders, who was staring at Duffo, leaned forward and shook his head.
‘There are more traitors at this table,’ said Tiberius. ‘This executive council has been compromised. Therefore, I have decided to streamline it to the few I know that I can trust.’
‘A brilliant move, Your Imperial Majesty,’ chuckled Duffo. ‘This lot have been holding us back anyway.’
‘Duffo, my dear adopted son, you’re relieved of your duties as Imperial Advisor,’ said Tiberius as he looked down at the table. ‘Please stand up.’
‘After all I’ve done,’ said Duffo in shock as he stood up. ‘You wish to cast me aside.’
‘At this table, you stand to gain the most from my fall,’ said Tiberius as he looked across at Duffo, who was growing angrier. ‘Until everything is straightened out, it is best you’re no longer involved in decision-making.’
Duffo threw his arms up in the air in annoyance.
‘I’m not done,’ said Tiberius. ‘Benny! You’ve somehow managed to weasel your way into relevance, but what do you actually contribute?’
Benny pointed at himself in surprise.
‘You were good friends with Demadrian,’ continued Tiberius. ‘I don’t feel comfortable with you. Please stand up.’
‘I’d like to say something in Benny’s defence,’ said Yvonne as Benny stood up. ‘Benny has been instrumental in…’
‘You were appointed to make up the numbers,’ interrupted Tiberius angrily. ‘You’re not needed any more. Stand up!’
Yvonne shrugged her shoulders and stood up.
Tiberius looked around the table at the remaining seated council members. He stopped at Lendall.
‘Security has been my biggest problem,’ said Tiberius as he stared at Lendall. ‘You were my head of security. Maybe these failings relate to incompetence or maybe you’re another traitor? Either way, I can’t have you in my executive council. Please stand up.’
Lendall lowered his head and slowly stood up.
‘Miro,’ said Tiberius as he turned to look at Miro.
‘Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,’ replied Miro.
‘I admire you above anyone else,’ said Tiberius, nodding. ‘I want to promote you to my second-in-command. I give you the title of “Grand Vizier”. When the occasion calls for it, I give you full authority to speak and act on my behalf.’
‘I am deeply honoured,’ said Miro as he bowed his head.
‘Head Enforcer,’ said Tiberius as he turned to the Head Enforcer.
‘Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,’ replied Head Enforcer.
‘I place all security, enforcement, and military under your command,’ said Tiberius firmly.
‘This is the honour of my life,’ replied Head Enforcer. ‘I will gladly destroy anyone for the glory of the Empire.’
‘Hermon,’ said Tiberius as he turned to Hermon.
‘Greatness recognising greatness,’ replied Hermon as he cupped his hands and beckoned towards himself.
‘You’re my favourite nephew,’ chuckled Tiberius. ‘You have a brilliant mind and you’re never afraid to speak the truth.
‘I truly pride myself on both those qualities,’ gloated Hermon as he looked around the table with a broad grin on his face.
‘I need you to take over the roles of Resource Manager, head of the Economic Institute, and Head Communications Officer as well as your current role of Head Scientist.’
‘Woah!’ exclaimed Hermon as he waved his hands in front of himself. ‘That’s a lot of work.’
‘For anyone else, but not you,’ chuckled Tiberius. ‘You’re Hermon.’
‘You make a great point,’ said Hermon.
‘Lily,’ said Tiberius as he turned to Lily.
‘Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,’ replied Lily, nodding.
‘I’m very tempted to make you stand up with the others,’ said Tiberius. ‘You’re very cunning and manipulative. You’ve fooled many of the smartest Linap and Sapiens from your time. There is a strong possibility that you could be using these skills against me.’
Duffo begins to grin slightly. Tiberius notices him grinning but keeps his focus on Lily.
‘I openly admit that I have played the dirty game of politics,’ said Lily. ‘I have sought forgiveness from the higher power. He told me that my path to salvation was to crown the one true Emperor of this world. That, of course, being you. He then commanded me to be utterly and completely loyal to you. If I do not obey the words of the higher power, I will be condemned to the underworld, where I’ll spend an eternity shackled to hot brimstone.’
‘The higher power speaks to you, does he?’ chuckled Tiberius. ‘I bet he told you that I’d sit by his side in the afterlife.’
‘No, he didn’t tell me that,’ replied Lily. ‘Instead, he showed me a vision of the future.’
‘You’re so pathetic!’ shouted Duffo. ‘Just stand up now, moron.’
‘He showed me that once you ascended, he would step aside and crown you the Ultimate Higher Power,’ said Lily calmly. ‘He would bow to you. He would worship you.’
Duffo burst out laughing.
‘Silence!’ shouted Tiberius.
The room remained silent for a few seconds. Tiberius stared at Lily. Then a tear began to roll down his cheek. ‘I had that exact same vision in my dream,’ said Tiberius in an emotional tone as he recollected a dream he had where the higher power, who looked like a giant with massive red hair, knelt before him. ‘You’re truly a messenger from the higher power. You’ll always be welcome at my table.’
‘I can’t believe you’re falling for this Sape shit!’ shouted Duffo as he glared angrily at Tiberius. ‘I’ll make a far superior Emperor than this gullible fool.’
‘Is that an admission of guilt?’ asked Miro angrily as he looked at Duffo.
‘I’m the first of my kind,’ scoffed Duffo. ‘I’m destined to be the Emperor. He’s a fraud. He’s not even an Alset.’
‘That’s a blatant and foolish lie,’ replied Miro. ‘If that were true, one of the Alset family members who’ve known Hamish for many years would have come forward.’
Henders shook his head. He was feeling quite uncomfortable.
‘Imperial guards,’ said Tiberius in a saddened tone. ‘Arrest my son, Duffo.’
Two of the imperial guards grabbed Duffo. A third cuffed his hands behind his back. Then they escorted him from the room.
‘Henders, I haven’t forgotten about you,’ said Tiberius as he looked at Henders, who was nervously sweating. ‘I understand how you must feel. Colin betrayed you. My adopted son Duffo betrayed me. Miro’s brother, Flint, betrayed him. It is so easy to be blinded by those closest to us. I hold nothing against you. I removed the title of Resource Manager from you because I want you to be Head Technician. The technicians respect you as a leader. You defy the odds in every way imaginable.’
Tiberius began to clap his hands, and everyone around the table joined in, even those standing.
‘Later today, I want Grand Vizier Miro to address the disgruntled technicians,’ said Tiberius as his eyes moved between those who remained seated at the table. ‘I want him to be accompanied by Head Technician Henders. The three of us will discuss these matters further after the meeting.’
Both Miro and Henders nodded in acknowledgement.
‘Now, onto the matter of the “Friends Not Food” law,’ said Tiberius. ‘Only the six of us seated have the right to vote on this.’
The six around the table briefly discussed their concerns. Then a vote was conducted. Tiberius, Miro, Head Enforcer, and Hermon immediately voted in favour of removing the law. On seeing the four hands, Lily joined them. Henders refused to raise his hand. Instead, he sadly shook his head.
Tiberius ended the meeting. Miro and Henders remained.
‘You are truly a voice for the voiceless,’ said Tiberius as he turned to Henders. ‘That’s why you’re so perfect to lead the technicians.’
Henders sighed as his eyes darted from side to side.
‘Did Colin hand you some DNA results, which he claimed were proof I was not Hamish Alset or even any of the Alset family?’ asked Tiberius calmly.
A terrified look came over Henders’ face.
‘It’s not his DNA,’ sighed Miro. ‘The Emperor is more pure Alset than anyone alive today. He gave you the DNA of someone else.’
Henders’ eyes started to dart back and forth between Miro and Tiberius.
‘I have an infrared recording from one of the imperial guard’s helmets,’ said Tiberius calmly. ‘I’d like to show you his true form.’
Tiberius showed Henders his phone. Then played some of the recording. Colin’s true form of August could be clearly seen.
Henders screamed and fell off his seat.
‘See,’ sighed Tiberius as he helped Henders to his feet. ‘He’s a monster. A horrible monster. You must disregard everything he told you, showed you, and gave you.’
Henders nodded in agreement.
Tiberius wrapped his arms around Henders and hugged him tight while kissing him on the head. Then he glanced over at Miro, who smiled and nodded in response.
Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide
Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide is the final book in the Sapien Loop trilogy. It continues directly after the events of the second book. The world above and the world below merge into one world. The conflicts in the underground world are brought to the surface. The new ruling elite attempt to crush any resistance from above and below in an attempt to create a new global empire.
Currently, three books from the series have been published on Amazon; see the links below:
All individual chapters can be found on my 