Center Worlds - Spark

Royal Palace, Tara -28 BA

“Dangerous games you play here, Lord Camelin.” Lya said as Ryo walked alongside her, their small group surrounded by palace guards as they moved along corridors towards the waiting shuttle.

“I despise the palace and all the politics. Tyo is the only reason I still set foot in this place, Lya.” Ryo said eyes alert for any sudden movement.

“We never did get an answer to your charges or compensation request.” She said, watching him warily, he was very much on edge.

“I never expected to. You saw how quickly it changed from my challenge to a general mess of politics? The Grand Council is political, they could not make a proper decision without talking it to death in committee. The only reason I did this was to make sure it was logged.” Ryo said, then paused before they got to a cross-corridor so the guards could make a wall to guide Lya through.

Lya looked at him. “You expect an attack? Here?”

“I do not expect us to be able to safely lift off. I have had two fighters descend from the TGX to escort us back to the ship, then we will leave orbit immediately and return to Clan space, My Lady.”

“But, this is Tara. What of the exclusion zone?”

The discussion was interrupted by rapid gunfire erupting all around them, Ryo threw himself over Lya and knocked her out of the chair to end up on the floor as he covered her with his own body, weapon at the ready. The guards had all dropped into defensive positions and were prepared. No fire hit them, the reports were in other corridors.

An eerie alarm filled the corridors, and one of the guards held his hand to his earpiece. “The Lord Emperor has been killed. Clan Michelab has killed the Lord Emperor. They are making their way through the palace now, using the south gate. Tyo Maselic is safe, Lord Camelin, he is at the northern battlements and is secure with a contingent of guards.”

“We wait until they depart. Are the palace defences armed?”

“Yes, My Lord. Any attack upon the palace will be met with lethal retribution. Also, the TGX-2 acknowledges weapons ready and targeted at vessels in orbit. Any hostile moves will be answered in kind.”

“Take us to Tyo, I need to speak with him,” Ryo said, picking himself up off the ground and then lifting Lya up and gently depositing her back in the travel chair.

The group made its way through the palace corridors until they came across another group of guards who saluted and allowed them to pass into one of the many conference rooms. Tyo was sitting there, watching a bank of monitors and listening to harried reports from a whole group of adjutants who were all getting information from different sources.

“Ryo, thank the Gods you are unharmed. Kyo was shot through the head by the Michelab bastards. The old man may have been demented, but he was loved by the people. There are already reports of unrest throughout the planet as the news is spreading.”

Ryo walked over to his cousin and took him by the shoulders, then gruffly hugged the smaller man. “We shall mourn the loss when it is time. In the mean, you are now the Emperor and must lead the Clans. What is the state of affairs?”

Tyo nodded, swallowing hard, and then looked up at his older cousin. “Clan Michelab triggered the rite of succession by killing the Lord Emperor face-to-face. As such, honour is maintained. They also killed four guards, and six Lari’Sota, and destroyed a ground shuttle. No vehicular weapons fire was detected, their vessel has left low orbit and has entered Vortex, the direction looks to be Michelab space.”

“No other Clansmen were killed or injured?” Ryo asked.

“No, they knew what they were doing. I’m in charge now, and there’s nothing I can do about their actions.” Tyo replied.

“You will do fine, Tyo. This is what you were raised for.” Ryo said, then hugged the smaller man. “You have lived this all your life, it is now your time.”

“I am only thirteen cycles, Cousin. I do not think I am ready.” Tyo protested but quietened as some of the advisers looked in his direction.

“My Lord Emperor, apologies for overhearing. You may not be aware, but you have the right to choose Clansmen as advisors and guidance at your leave.” Came the quiet advice.

Tyo looked at Ryo. “Stay with me, Cousin, please?”

Ryo looked at Lya, and at her nod, he nodded at Tyo and held out his hands in a firm clasp.

Six cycles. Ryo stayed with young Tyo, guiding him, and watching him grow up. Lya shuttled back and forth on board the TGX, with Captain Kalen in command as she spent half a cycle on Tara, with her mate, and the other half on the Clanworld, with their quickly growing daughter and her foundling. Lyo.

Tyo dealt with Clan Michelab swiftly and legally, bringing much honour to the Palace and impressing everybody when he declared them inviolate to stand on the Grand Council due to their violent acts towards a fellow Clansman. The rite of succession having thrust him into power, Tyo Masilec now used that power to protect himself. Clan Michelab was barred from setting foot on Tara until Tyo was of Majority. They had representation in the Grand Council by Proxy, another Clan could make decisions that governed Clan Michelab, but no member of Michelab was allowed on the planet or in the palace.

He worked tirelessly, strengthening his body and mind. Reading everything there was about governance, and learning from the archivists and Advisors, with Ryo as a constant companion to ensure he was not pulled astray, Tyo learned how to be an Emperor.

They sparred daily, Ryo teaching Tyo everything he knew about hand-to-hand combat and bladed combat. As well as teaching the young Emperor how to hold and use a handgun. Tyo quickly outpaced his Cousin in battle, becoming an expert marksman before he turned fourteen, and being able to bring down opponents twice his size unarmed swiftly and effectively. Tyo grew under the tutelage of Ryo Camelin mindful of the dangers of being the leader of the disparate Clans, but also mindful of loyalty and what the Confederacy stood for.

Back in the Clanworld, young Gya grew also, with her mother there for half her years, and House staff always around her, the girl was safe. With Lyo being a constant body that she did not initially understand, but grew to enjoy his presence and began to enjoy spending time with him.

She developed a flight aptitude and began learning how to parasail, fly a flitter, and then dance in zero-g at the top of the skyhook. Lyo was right along with her, and he learned also, eager to match her and be there for her in case she needed help.

She was always eager to spend time with her Father, and spent many days on the TGX bridge, watching the crew doing their duties, enjoying flying down the grav chutes, and spending time playing in a Superiority fighter, tethered to a tractor field, but learning how to fly in zero-g.