GENESIS - THE BEGINNING. Book 1

CHAPTER 32 ... Judgement

"Sire?" he was nervous. What went wrong? Everything went according to plan until this she-bitch entered the picture.

"Prepare to die Lord Hollard." she said calmly.

Her sword pointed downwards between them, slicing through the air in pendulum fashion.

Alarmed and frightened, he stepped back. "Sire? But..."

CEASE AND DESIST. YOU ARE BEING JUDGED. MOVEMENT IS INDICATIVE OF A THREAT TOWARDS YOUR EMPEROR. THERE IS NO SECOND WARNING. EXECUTION WILL BE IMMEDIATE.

Lord Hollard froze. He was a large man run to fat. Large jowls hung from each side of his face. Small, brown, close set eyes stared at Katya in panic. "Sire...?"

"It all depends Hollard, on whether you die alone or not. I want the names of those that collaborated with you."

"Sire ... please ...."

His mouth was dry. He couldn't think straight. It was all so sudden.

"Should you not give me their names Hollard, the moment your head hits the ground, Polrobs will execute your family. You are a traitor Hollard, and as such you will meet your end. Now, what will it be? Your family or those names?" She stared at him with so much anger and hate in her eyes that he knew for a certainty that it was over. His jowls jiggled from side to side as urine ran down his legs.

Katya looked up at the Polrob. "We will both count off ten seconds silently. If there is no answer we will see between us who is the faster, you or I. Your laser versus my sword."

SIRE.

"On my mark. MARK...." She stared at the fat man. "Your Family or...," she shifted her grip and...

"I'll do it." he screeched, falling to his knees. "Mercy Sire. I beg you. Have mercy."

"The names." She drew her sword back in preparation.

"Paul Vangel, Stephen Michaels, Evans Pope and John Bull." He cried as he kneeled in his own urine.

"Pry screen gone." she commanded. The blue screen lifted.

"If he moves kill him." She turned to her other bodyguards. "Arrest those men. Do not kill them."

Her bodyguards continued circling her as four Polrobs entered through the swing doors and split up. They darted across the hall in different directions and almost simultaneously came to hover above four men who gazed upwards in astonishment.

Their warning sounded as one.

PAUL VANGEL. STEPHEN MICHAELS. EVANS POPE. JOHN BULL. YOU ARE BEING JUDGED. PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS. ANY ATTEMPT TO VACATE YOUR SEAT WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SENTENCE.

They glanced wildly about as men and women seated around them vacated their seats.

"Please step forward." Katya instructed them. They unwillingly left their seats.

"Now take Lord Hollard there," she indicated the kneeling, sobbing man. "... and get onto the podium if you please." The hall went quiet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I ask your indulgence," Katya said to the gathered officials. "You will soon understand. I ask that none of you leave this hall." Her smile was cold and deadly. "You have been warned." She turned and stared at the five men on the podium. "Gentlemen, you are being judged by your peers. There is no need to plead your guilt or innocence . That will come later." She turned to the hologram and tapped the finger pad.