The Emperor's loud footsteps echoed as he walked down a long darkened corridor. He came to a door at the end of the hallway that glowed ever so softy. On each side of this door red clad well armed royal imperial guards stood motionless at their post. The Emperor stopped just a few meters short of the door. Both guards quickly saluted him. The Imperial seal on the door was sharply lit from behind. To Margo this made it seem as if the dragon on the seal were smiling at him. Emperor Margo raised his right fist to the door. Carefully he aimed a large yellow ring on his middle finger at the seal. The ring then began to radiate. Suddenly a flash of yellow light leaped from the ring, striking the dragon on the seal. Then the snake like eyes of the dragon started to shine brightly. Quietly the door rose to reveal a frigid and murky room. The Emperor calmly walked into the blackness and the door silently closed behind him. Cautiously, both the guards tried once more to get a glimpse into the room before the door closed completely. Just like so many times before they still couldn't see anything of the Emperor's mysterious room deep below the palace. The Emperor was the only one allowed to venture into this chamber. Some more dishonorable imperial officers had tried to gain entrance to it in the past, only to fail miserably in the attempt. They were sure it was the true source of the Emperor's great power. All of them were quickly and quietly dispatched, never to know just how right they were. Emperor Margo stood alone in the icy blackness. From nowhere a blinding yellow beam of light hit him in the face. He tried to use his hands to shield his eyes from it. “Who has entered my chamber!” shouted a loud and ominous voice. Once the Emperor's eyes had adjusted enough to the bright light he was able to see the all too familiar small platform before him. Margo quickly bowed down and knelt on it. He lowered his head away from the light and looked only at the gloomy floor. Slowly he replied, “It is I, Margo, Oh Great Crystal." A yellow light suddenly engulfed the entire room. The light gently reflected off the black metallic walls, floor and ceiling of the round chamber. The room was now bathed in a warm yellow haze. Margo raised his head to see a pulsating Crystal at the center of the room on a two meter high black metallic pillar. “What is it?” asked the booming voice of the Crystal. “I require something of you, Oh Great Crystal,” Margo said gazing up at it. “What is it you wish of me now Margo?” the voice asked patiently. “With just a little more of your great power, I will soon have fulfilled our quest. It's now just a matter of time until my Empire will have conquered the known Galaxy." Margo said quite pleased. The room was oddly silent. Only the soft throbbing of the Crystals pulsations filled the room. Just before Margo was about to break the silence the Crystal yelled out, “Conquer!" The echo of the booming voice caused the room to shake. The Emperor frowned realizing he did not choose his words wisely. Quickly he attempted to spin his meaning by saying, "You see, after the...” “Why do you need yet more of my help? More power?” interrupted the Crystal's loud voice. “Why, Oh Great Crystal, if I am to unite the Galaxy together it must first be under proper control.” Margo confidently stated, finishing with a long smile. “Then what do you want me to do this time, Margo?” the Crystal impatiently asked. “I want…need the political control of the Kingdom of Omal,” he replied looking deeply into the pulsating light of the Crystal, waiting with hungry eyes. Again the room was silent, except for the deep rhythmic pulsations of the Crystal. “Omal's leader Meha has a strong will. It will not be as easy to control him. He's nothing like the other kingdom leaders you had me influence before. He is intelligent and has very few weaknesses,” the Crystal stated. “But you must do it. I need the Pales galactic banks, with all their great wealth and power I will be able to dominate all!” Margo savagely ranted clinching his right fist. “I said I would try to do what I could Margo,” the Crystal said very loudly. Margo sprung up to the pillar demanding, “I want it now! I am the chosen heir, your King! Just remember that!” A blinding flash of light hit Margo in the face. He fell to the floor, trying to shield his eyes from it. Then all at once the room was black again. Margo tried to look through the inky blackness at the spot where he believed the Crystal to be. Almost as if the Crystal knew this, a long, large flash of lighting jumped from it and hit the floor just inches away from Margo. The thunderous strike echoed loudly throughout the chamber. Margo quickly fell to his knees, bowing his head to the floor with his long hair in his face. The room suddenly lit up in a hazy yellow glow again. The Crystal was once more resting on its pillar quietly pulsating. “Oh Great Crystal, I am sorry. It has been difficult for me to be so patient. I am only trying to achieve our quest in the most efficient way possible,” pleaded Margo lying prostrate on the floor. “Sometimes you seem to forget who has the power Margo.” the Crystal said boldly. Then seconds later it added humbly, “However, it is true you are the heir, the King.” Margo pushed his hair back and looked up at the placeCityCrystal with authority in his eyes and said, “Yes, that's right! I was the one chosen by your yellow light.” “That is what the plaque said Margo?” asked the now humble voice of the Crystal ever so softly. “You still don't remember,” The Emperor said squinting at the Crystal. “I have few memories of that time. Those I do have are mostly of you and learning from you. I only recall pain and darkness before then.” “Of course great Crystal it was written, we are the chosen ones that will bring forth order and enlightenment to this chaotic galaxy,” Margo said confidently with one eyebrow raised. With reluctance the Crystal said, “Very well, I will see what I can do… for the heir and King.” Margo smiled with satisfaction, but it quickly faded when the Crystal continued, “As for fulfilling the quest...” Margo rose to his feet and stared at the Crystal waiting for more. “I am aware of things, Margo!” The Crystal said in its former loud and booming voice. Margo turned away from the Crystal to look at the wall behind him. While rubbing his scar on his small chin, he said under his breath, “The room is still not deep enough after all.” Over the years Margo had realized the placeCityCrystal's powers were growing and becoming more difficult to manipulate. Even though it did not seem to remember where it came from, it was still able to learn and appeared to understand a great number of things. It was no longer as naive as it used to be all those many years ago. Until now, hiding it deep underground away from people and focusing its powers in select ways had kept it from learning the entire truth. “What was that Margo?” questioned the pulsating Crystal. “N…nothing Oh Great Crystal I was only merely commenting on the size of your chamber,” Margo lied. “Maybe it's not big enough after all.” Looking back at the Crystal with as much sincerity as he could muster he questioned, “What are these things you say you are aware of?” “I can sense many terrible things this Empire of yours has done and still continues to do. For example you have closed many religious institutions…” Seductively Margo asked, “Why of course. You are the only true order. Can't you see that?” “I have no qualms about any religion. They seek enlightenment in there own way. They should not be discouraged.” “With your great powers you can bring true enlightenment quicker to all of humanity. Those other orders are only a distraction. You can show them a much purer and truer path,” Margo preached, trying his best to exploit any vanity that might exist in the Crystal. The Crystal pulsated for a moment. Margo could feel his smile starting to return. His new tact seemed to be bearing fruit. “These enslavements of select human variations are also a concern,” the voice said suddenly. Margo frowned again and looked up at the ceiling. After only a few seconds of contemplation, he started to smile again and said, “Yes, that has been troubling to me as well.” “It has?” replied the Crystal surprised. “As the Empire grew, we took on all manner of human customs and behaviors. It has been difficult to make quick changes in some areas. That was one of the reasons I have been attempting to create a state religion of enlightenment so quickly to teach my subjects your wisdom.” “I see. So those forced labor camps have been set up by others? You have been attempting to put a stop to it Margo?” “Of course, Oh Great Crystal. We can not have slavery in this day and age. It would be a blemish on any road to enlightenment.” The Crystal quietly pondered again and pulsated for a moment. “Harming others is not the way Margo,” It finally said. With both eyebrows raised Margo replied, “That is true, but have I not taught you long ago that sometimes we may have to hurt a few people now and then in order to help all the others? This may always be necessary in order to achieve our ultimate goal.” “Very well Margo. I will see about Meha and his kingdom of Omal as soon as I can,” the Crystal said with remorse. “We will talk more about the problems in this Empire later. Now please go, I grow weary. It is not easy to keep up with your demands and maintain your personal strength,” it said as its light started to slowly dim. Margo stood up and walked over to the door, using his ring to open it again. Once more the room was dark as the door rose. Slowly the Emperor walked out of the door and down the corridor, paying little mind to the guards' prying eyes. They could only see the same mysterious dark room which they have always seen and unable to figure out what had caused all of the loud noises from inside the chamber. The Emperor walked down towards an elevator at the other end of the hall. As he thought silently to himself an evil grin grew on his lips. © Lee Crystal's Outpost 13 All rights reserved