ICHaFBI 11

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=I, Corvus; How a Fool became Imperator of the O'Reillys - Chapter XI -=
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----<Character & Faction Directory of I, Corvus>----
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===Unexpected Proposal===
Imperial Palace
Nova Roma, Gaul Continent
Marian Hegemony
16th November, 3031
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Corvus leaned heavily on his cane as he exited the DropShip. It was a sturdy piece, made of some substance or other that was stronger than steel but as light as balsa wood and stained to look like mahogany.The bones had finally finished healing over the four week trip home. But over the decades the cane had become more than an aid. His constant companion, it had always been as much a comfort item as it was a necessity.
 
More importantly, it was necessary to keep up the illusion. Feeble of mind, feeble of body, and he was no threat. But if he suddenly appeared vital in one domain, they might finally start to take him seriously in the other. That was not a risk he could afford to take. Even if Sertorius was serious about seeing him as an equal, he would look the fool for doing so. The rest of the court were more dangerous than any Imperator.
 
A single servant was there to assist him off of the Imperial palace’s private landing pad. Good, he thought. He always needed time to compose himself after a trip and he’d grown sick of welcoming ceremonies by now. He let the servant take his arm and help him to his villa.
 
He sent the servant for some stuffed dormice and wine and sat a moment in the entryway. The leg might be fine, but the heart had a long way to go yet. He began to nod off when he heard a strange girl’s voice calling his name. He looked up and saw a gangling little girl hurrying toward him.
 
He swore at himself for being a bad uncle for not recognizing his own niece. But she had changed so much over the last year. Her blonde curls and green eyes were unmistakably hers, but she seemed to him as if she’d grown a full foot, and most of that in her legs and arms. She carried herself awkwardly, but with the same enthusiasm she always did. Her voice was deepening and cracking as she called him over and over. He grinned back at her and waved with his cane. She came barreling into him with a hug that nearly toppled him.
 
“Uncle Corvus, I’m so glad you’re here! I have so much to tell you! You won’t believe the wedding!”
 
“My little star! I’ve missed you so much. Tell me everything about the wedding!”
 
“It was amaaaazing! You won’t believe it! There were so many famous people, and everyone was dressed so weird! Like, I knew from the holos that people dress differently in the Sphere, but there were so many crazy fashions. And the people, there weren’t many my age, most were adults, but the ones who were, they were just…there was just so much to learn. You would have loved it!”
 
“The wedding was beautiful, I didn’t even know them, but I cried at the end, when they sang to each other. They let out a whole bunch of doves at the end, but it was a really bad idea because they had a really big fire-thing in the reception hall, and a bunch of doves flew into it. I wish you could have been there uncle! You would have love it! I think every country in the galaxy was there and I bet you could have told me all sorts of interesting things about every one of them.”
 
“I wish I could have come with you, child—” He froze as he saw a contubernium of Praetorian Ceremonial Guard heading towards the villa. “Go, run inside child, go out the back and run home. You hear me?” She nodded and rushed away.
 
Corvus stood, making a show of leaning on his cane as he waited for the Guard and their charge to arrive. Sertorius, standing in the resplendent purple toga and laurel crown of the Imperator dismissed the guards and stepped through the threshold alone. He motioned inwards and they both walked into the atrium.
 
“I’m glad to see Janus guarded you well on the journey, though I wish the Ordo Vigilis had done a better job of it. I’m sorry, Corvus, I’d hoped that sending you to Niops was safe. Who could have expected some of those introverted sheep would turn out to be rams? I never would have sent you if I’d suspected for a moment. You did damn well despite the danger. My generals are practically chomping at the bit to get at the trove of treasures you’ve brought back with you. I’m proud of you, cousin.”
 
He paused and looked around the atrium, taking a few steps towards the pool at the center. “I wish I could reward you with something worthy of you. I have some more transitions of Janus to guide you through instead.”
 
Corvus sighed and sat on a bunch against the wall. “Another diplomatic m-m-mission? P-please, I need some time to rest. I’ve m-missed Lucia and Sinead so much…”
 
“Well, yeah, there’s one of those, but that’ll come later. I need you here for six months at least. Corvus...I need you to get married.”
 
Corvus’s eyes went wide, then he laughed. “Oh, is t-that all? Well, the only w-w-women gotten the know these p-p-past t-two years are Magistrate Sato and the woman who t-tried to kill me. Given the choice, I’ll t-t-take the murderess.”
 
“I’m serious, cousin. I need you to do this for me, for all of us. The only thing keeping me in power are the Praetorians. I need to bring them into the family, and unless you’d prefer I wed Lucia to Marcus Gibson, then I need you to marry his sister.”
 
“You’re a b-b-bastard bringing her into this.”
 
“I’m doing it to protect her, and you, and me, all of us!” Sertorius started to step towards him with menace in his movements, then seemed to stop himself. He spoke softly after. “Please, for all our sakes. I know how much you’ve sacrificed, but I need you to do this.”
 
“You’ll want children too, I suspect, to bind the lines together.”
 
“If you can manage.”
 
“Oh, if Marius c-c-could stomach it, I’m sure I can. I won’t be locking her in a c-c-cage to be sure, if that’s what you’re asking.”
 
“No. I’d never ask that, of anyone, ever, and fuck you for even thinking it. If you and Gloria can make it happen, great. If she……hell, I guess if you never feel it’s right, then……I’ll be content with that too.”
 
“I’ll do what I n-n-need to d-do to pr-pr-” He paused and breathed in and out, slowly. Sertorius gave him the time to calm down. “I’ll d-do what I m-must.”
 
“Thank you.” Sertorius said, then headed towards the doors.
 
Corvus continued to breath, to try to get some control over his mind and body. His body cleared first. His mind he thought, may not be settled for a very long time.
 
“Uncle Corvus…?” Lucia called from around the door to his study.
 
“L-Lucia? How much did you hear.”
 
She crept towards him, holding her hands and looking down. “Not all of it...I hid under your bed when you called him...a bastard.”
 
He rose and pulled her into a hug. “It’s all right, Lucia. I wish you hadn’t heard, but you have, and it’s all going to be all right.”
 
“Thank you, for looking after me.”
 
They stood there a long time, tears rolling down Corvus’ cheek. Finally, Lucia pulled away.
 
“Uncle, we don’t have to be sad. Have you ever met Gloria Gibson before?”
 
“No.”
 
“She might be beautiful, or kind, or smart, or funny. She could be anything, don’t be sad!”
 
“I’ll t-try to see it your way, child.”
 
Her eyes lit up and a smile came across her face. “The wedding! It’s perfect, I mean, I just saw the most amazing wedding in the entire galaxy! Can I help? Plllllllease let me help, Uncle!”
 
He let out a little laugh. “Oh, of c-course you can, sweetheart. In face, I want you to stand beside me. How do you want to be my best man?"
 
Lucia giggled and put a hand over her mouth. “Really?”
 
“Well, how many man do I know and love, hmm? I mean, the Serrano boys, they could come as groomsmen. Aside from them, it’s just you girls, and you’re the best of them by miles! Your father was my best friend, maybe my only real male friend. Your mother would stand beside me if she could in his stead I’m sure, but she can’t, and you can.
 
“Do I have to wear a suit?”
 
“Only if you want to, child! You dress however you want to, and if anyone says no, well, the bride’s word is law at a wedding, and I wouldn’t marry any woman who would deny you!”
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===Quiet Wedding Night===
Imperial Palace
4th December, 3031
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The wedding was beautiful, in it’s own way. It was small by design, but lavish all the same. Even though it had been staged entirely by members of the Imperial court, it managed to conform to the general shape Corvus would have hoped for in a wedding had he had the choice.
 
The most important part was that Lucia and Sinead were present, and happy. Lucia had in fact, decided on wearing a suit. The Serrano “boys” stood beside her to complete his side of the affair.
 
He was glad for their presence. The guests on “his” side were almost exclusively invitees of Sertorius, here to jockey for position with no concern for their groom. Aside from a handful of thirty-something women in the front row, his bride’s side was similarly packed with Praetorians in their uniform finery.
 
Like her brother Marcus, she was tall, but unlike him, lanky and awkward, as if Lucia’s 13 year old body was blown to adult proportions. But she carried herself with confidence nonetheless and laughed off every part of the ceremony.
 
The reception took place at his villa whose size meant that most of the guests were dining in the open air outside the walls. Sertorius and Marcus gave the only speeches, and it developed fairly quickly into a disorganized piss up led by the Praetorians and their partners. He’d been warned that you never really had time for yourself at your own wedding, but it felt as if it were Sertorius and Marcus wedding, for all the attention they were receiving.
 
Despite the opportunity, Corvus and Gloria barely exchanged a word.
 
Then someone said something crude, and the Praetorians stormed back into the villa chanting his name. They ushered the couple along to the bedroom, cheering and chanting all the way. Someone pushed Corvus and he tumbled over onto the bed. Gloria came stumbling after, but kept herself upright. The doors closed behind them, and the drunken revelers cheered their names.
 
Gloria looked towards the door and occupied her hands by sorting out her hair. “Whenever I think I’ve come to know my brother, he always finds a way to surprise me. I just wish it were with some other dimension than his utter lack of class.”
 
Corvus turned over and propped himself up with his arms. “At least we can thank him for rescuing us from the most awkward public affair of my life.”
 
“Yes, we must. Now we can enjoy our awkwardness in privacy.”
 
Corvus snorted. “We’ll write th-that in his thank you c-c-card. If they let us write them ourselves anyways.”
 
She didn’t laugh. She was staring down at him, while he stared back.
 
“I won’t be joining you down there, if that’s what you’re after.”
 
“Do you think I want you to?”
 
“Men are strange creatures, but they do tend to at least be consistent. So, yes, I do.”
 
“I don’t.”
 
She relaxed and sat on the foot of the bed. “Well, good then. I’m glad that’s sorted.”
 
They sat there a moment in silence.
 
At length, Gloria broke it. “Do you have a book I might read?”
 
Corvus rose and shuffled off towards his bookshelves. “The library is down the hall, and I d-d-dare not brave that c-crowd again tonight, so your choices are l-limited. Perhaps something of mine?
 
“Oh, no darling, I’d prefer not to fall asleep so early.”
 
Corvus paused and glowered at his Cut From the Vine: The Death of Orphaned Worlds of the Rim Worlds Republic, and slid it back into place.
 
“Oh, don’t give me that look.”
 
“W-what look? I’m looking at the books.”
 
“Your neck tenses when you make that face, and it was certainly meant for me, even if it’s not turned my way.”
 
He sighed and grabbed a weathered paperback, Operation Exodus. “P-perhaps this is more your style. Written by Nicholas Kerensky. It’s an alternate future of the Inner Sphere, where his father Aleksandr lives and leads the SLDF out of the Inner Sphere, the Great Houses never fell, and a glorious SLDF returns from the Deep Periphery to restore civilization.”
 
“Sounds dreadful.”
 
“And you haven’t even read his p-p-prose yet. We’re already in for a dreadful evening, why dilute it now?”
 
“Why do you even have such a book?”
 
“When I was younger, t-to remind myself that if such a dim mind can get published, anyone c-c-can.”
 
“I’m sure having the most famous family name did nothing to help him achieve that goal.”
 
“I thought it would give me insight into his father, to help my studies. But I feel like the average history three hundred years on has a better understanding of Kerensky than his own son. Nicholas does seem to have had a rather loose grasp on reality in g-g-general.” He limped back towards the bed.
 
Her eyes were fixed firmly on his legs. “Oh, do hurry up. You’re no more crippled than I am.”
 
“M-my leg was crushed as a child, it never healed properly-”, Corvus begun
 
“Yes, yes, and when you came back from Niops, it was working perfectly well. You might be beneath the notice of others, but I studied the public holos you’ve appeared in and anyone with a zoom feature can see the shape of your leg has changed.”, Gloria informed him.
 
“You’re the first to notice.”
 
“I’m the first to try. Don’t flatter yourself, husband. The fact no one has noticed speaks to how horrendously stupid they are, not how to how clever your deception is, and the fact that you haven’t come to that realization yourself shows how exactly how clever you aren’t. They don’t notice because they don’t notice you. If they ever paid you the slightest attention, anyone with half a brain could.”
 
“And why d-d-don’t they pay me that notice? Because I’ve cultivated their d-disdain for me.”, Corvus 
 
“Yes, and then you go and publish academic tomes, and if the senatorial class was anywhere near as educated as the equities, they’d realize what a triumph they are and it would all fall apart.”
 
He handed her the book and lay back down on the bed. He grabbed a book from his nightstand, a collection of folklore from the Rimward Periphery that claimed to trace their origins.
 
They stayed like that long until the night when the last reveler finally left Corvus’ home, and the two passed out, books in hand.
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===Where are they??===
Via Victoria, Capitoline Hill
19th September, 3032
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Sertorius sat atop an enormous float as it made it slow progress along the Viae Marianus towards the forum. The thing was a monstrosity that portrayed his Marauder, stylized as a legionnaire of old, stomping on wreckage of a half down smaller mechs, stylized as ancient gallic warriors. It looked like a jumped mess to his eyes. It was in poor taste he had argued, but his advisors had claimed it would raise the people’s spirits.
He’d consented to anything that would brighten the people’s spirits in the wake of world after world “freed” by the Black Warriors of Circinus, but now, as he felt the eyes of millions upon him, atop this abomination, he wished he’d stood up to his advisors more.
He’d deserved the triumph more than his brother had deserved his. After all, Marius had commanded from afar, while Sertorius had commanded the destruction of Rex Vercingetorovski’s resistance personally. Yet nothing about today felt like a triumph. Perhaps it was the man next to him, sitting as if he were an equal. Like Sertorius, Marcus Gibson was all smiles, waving to the crowds as they passed along the viae. The words that passed between them, where none could hear but each other, belied the unified front they presented to the masses.
 
“This is fucking ridiculous.” Gibson said.
 
“Better than Marius’ triumph. At least we beat a real enemy this time.”
 
“No. We should’ve smashed Rex last year. The Morituri are cowards since you put the prisoners in charge. They didn’t even fire a shot and they ran.”
 
“It’s a victory now. Rex was—"
 
“Rex was a nobody. One world he had. We ran, and by the time we get back, he had three. Coulda been a dozen by this time next year. Their cowardice put the whole Hegemony in danger.”
 
“But he didn’t last that long, his worlds are ours, and now he’ll die.”
 
“It’s a fucking embarrassment.”
 
“You want to see what an embarrassment is? An embarrassment is leading an attack on what is literally the smallest nation in the galaxy and being humiliated while they ravage your supply lines, conquer your worlds, and face no opposition. We’re having a triumph because you screwed up, bad, with Circinus. I didn’t want this, you forced me to do it with your incompetence on the rimward side of the front.”
 
“Don’t even fucking start! What I ordered worked with the intel we had. There’s no way Circinus was able to organize that fast, and get that much heavy hardware without outside help. If they did, well, that proves the point even more! The Ordo Vigilis dropped the ball.”
 
“You’re a general. You’re supposed to plan for these things, have contingencies. Intel is never completely correct. We were supposed to have four regiments of mechs on Merton. We had one battalion. Their job was to sit there. To just fucking sit there and you found a way to screw that up, Marcus.”
 
“And I’m telling you that the shitstains in the Ordo Vigilis are feeding us bad intel on purpose! They had to know! Marius was Vigilis, his pet Harcourt was Vigilis. They’re all in on it! We need to burn the whole place down and start again.”
 
“No, then we’d—” Sertorius trailed off as the float came into sight of the Imperial box. It had been scrubbed clean and rebuilt into a footpath. But Sertorius remembered, and so did Gibson. They both sat silently, remembering the last triumph they’d taken part in. Sertorius dropped the facade and cast his eyes down, not wanting to see the box as it passed over them. Below, he saw Corvus and his new wife Gloria, sitting with a good foot of space between them, as they waved out at the crown. Their smiles felt more genuine than he. He hoped they were.
 
The one smile he knew was real came from Lucia, who ran about the float, waving, cheering, and calling out to the crowd. She’d been doing it for two hours. He had no idea how she kept up that kind of energy under the beating sun of Alphard.
 
The Imperial float was marked more by it’s absences. He marveled that Lucia could stay in such high spirits while her mother wasted away at home. She’d degenerated to the point that she could no longer leave the house. His own wife, Siobhan, had refused to leave the palace in weeks. It saddened him to no end that she would choose to seclude herself now, after so long as a prisoner. But he couldn’t bring himself to do what it would take to break her from her melancholy.
 
The rest of the procession was quiet. They arrived at the forum without incident and led the other dignitaries into the senate chamber. He bowed to them and took his seat, facing them. An aged woman in senatorial robes rose to address the chamber.
 
She looked familiar; he must have seen her before, given her roll in the ceremony, but he couldn’t quite place the name. He wished he’d had Marius’ skill with such things. Somehow, that man knew the names, families, and motivations of damn near everyone in the Hegemony. He had no idea how the man could manage it.
 
“Bring forth those who would defy the Imperator’s will!” The old senator commanded in a booming voice that defied her age. Rex was dragged before him by a pair of Praetorians, with his lieutenants and allies behind. All of them were bound by heavy metal chains.
 
“Rex Vercingetorovski, approach the throne and face judgement!”
 
The Praetorians threw him forward, and the man nearly stumbled. He stood tall and proud before the Imperator. “Imperator, I ask one chance to explain my defiance to you and to your people before you judge my compatriots and I.”
 
Sertorius gestured for him to speak. Rex turned to face the senators, and the many video and holo cameras behind them, broadcasting live around the world, and directly to the HPG that would soon send the same around the Hegemony.
 
“Had my moderate prosperity been equal to my noble birth and fortune, I should have arrived on this planet as your friend rather than as your captive; and you would not have disdained to receive, under a treaty of peace, a king descended from illustrious ancestors and ruling many nations. My present lot is as glorious to you as it is degrading to myself. I had loyal men and 'mechs, Dropships, and wealth. What wonder if I parted with them reluctantly? If you Marians choose to lord it over the world, does it follow that the world is to accept slavery? Were I to have been at once delivered up as a prisoner, neither my fall nor your triumph would have become famous. There are many wars in your future and none of those you war against wish to be your slaves. They will fight, as I did. My punishment would be followed by oblivion, an oblivion that your enemies, in Circinus and beyond, will meet in the field as they know surrender will doom them to the same fate as resistance. Whereas, if you save my life, I shall be an everlasting memorial of your clemency. ”
 
Sertorius knew the man was right, and what’s worse, his words were already spreading through the nation. But what option did he have? His eyes flicked towards Corvus, who recognized it as an invitation.
 
“There is precedent. Marius spared the warlord of Algenib, and of c-course the peace with honour at Timbiqui. But I would be very c-c-careful, Imperator. Most of that was word for word from Caratacus’ speech in Tacitus’ Annals. Caratacus was spared and lived in Rome until his dying day, but this m-man, he is crafty, far more clever than he appears. ”
 
Sertorius nodded and rose. “This man, Rex, speaks true. His fierce resistance serves to prove the glory and might of the Hegemony! It shall never be said that the Imperator is not without mercy. Rex Vercingetorovski, swear your undying allegiance to me, and you and your people can live out the rest of your days as my guests.”
 
Rex hesitated long enough to glance at the column of his chained compatriots. Then he stepped forward, prostrated himself on the ground before Sertorius, and swore his loyalty. Sertorius bade him to rise, and they embraced. But when he pulled back, he could see the burning hatred in the man’s eyes. This man would kill him the moment should he have the chance, and he might have decades for the opportunity to present itself.
 
He tried to enjoy the festivities, but those piercing eyes haunted him until long after he retired to the palace.
 
His rooms were dark when he returned. He felt the weight of it, even after he flicked on the lights. None but his family were allowed beyond the threshold, not even the Praetorians, yet none had the courage to visit. Siobhan was here, somewhere. He crept through in the hopes of not waking her. He wasn’t welcome in their bed these days. He pulled a reclining couch near the center of the atrium so that he could watch the stars. Sertorius wasn’t laying for long before he heard someone shuffling behind him. Turning, he saw Siobhan.
 
Even lit by the faintest starlight, it was clear that she’d been crying. Her arms were stiff at her sides and her hands balled into fists. “Tori. I’m leaving here. I’m leaving you.”
 
He lay there, silently.
 
“Say something!” 
 
She waited.
 
“Say something you bastard!” Siobhan shouted.
 
He wanted to. His heart tore in half to hear it, but he just lay there.
 
“I have not seen my children in a year and a half, Tori. I’ve asked, I’ve begged, I’ve screamed. I’m starting to believe what they all say; that you’ve murdered them like you murdered Marius. Prove to me I’m wrong!”
 
He pulled himself up and patted the seat next to him, which she ignored. “I can’t. It’s not safe for them here. The games Gibson is playing...it’s too dangerous.”
 
“The games never stop Tori! They never did for Marius, they didn’t for your father. They won’t for you!”
 
“I just need to stop-”, Sertorius begun.
 
“No! Enough! Prove they’re alive! Where are they? If you don’t tell me, I’m going to find them on my own, and you’ll never see me again.”
 
“I can’t-”, he tried to explain.
 
“No, you won’t. Tori...this is your final chance. And...I think it’s my final chance too. I know I should have told you before, but….but I was afraid of what would happen if you, if anyone, knew. I knew if Marius’ followers knew the truth and removed you from power that they would kill the children too. But now, it’s time. I have no choice.”
 
He waited while Siobhan built up her courage.
 
“Sean and Livia…they aren’t Marius’ children. They’re yours.”
 
A wave of everything hit Sertorius. Anger, confusion, happiness, more feelings he couldn’t even describe. “How..?”
 
“You bloody well know how! The whole time, when you weren’t deployed, you were here, sneaking in to see me. Marius……he almost never touched me, and when he did, he had to be drunk to do it. It was political, Tori, you know this. He always suspected, I think, but he never asked, never had them tested. He just assumed and sent you away. But I know. I counted the days, and it’s you. If you don’t believe me, then find them, compare your DNA, and find out for yourself. If you have killed them, then know that you’ve killed your own children, along with every ounce of happiness in my life.”
 
Tears were streaming down both of their eyes. Sertorius struggled to find the words, to comfort her, to scream at her. He wanted to jump up and hold her and never let go, but he knew he couldn’t until the children were home, safe. Eventually, he was able to choke out a few words. “Don’t leave me, please. I will bring them back.” They fell asleep in the atrium together. He slipped out before dawn to take the Imperial to Algenib.
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ICHaFBI 11