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“I have to address the crowd now. Quick, set up the planet-wide vids... oof!”
Uruk cannonballed into him, cutting his words off.
The force knocked them to the floor, causing Murduk to skid across the marble under Uruk’s solid muscled body.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Murduk shoved at the bulk of the other man, unable to breathe.
Uruk tensed and then collapsed, his full weight landing on his leader.
Something thick and hot dripped into Murduk’s eyes and stung his nose. He wiped the dense mess away, and the sharp metallic scent of blood made him cough. His eyes widened at the smear of blood coating his fingers. Where was the blood coming from?
He couldn’t see over Uruk’s limp body. With a frenzied shove, he pushed and rolled the man off of him. Once free, he scrambled to his knees and sucked in a pure breath. After a couple of coughs to clear his throat, he looked at his guard.
The laser spear embedded in Uruk’s neck quivered. No need to check his pulse, the loyal man was dead.
Swallowing the hot acid pooling in his mouth, Murduk spat on the floor. He vowed revenge on those who did this.
The keen zing of a laser spear made him flatten to the floor. The weapon whistled over his head, right where he’d been seconds before. “Nungal! Where the fuck are you?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his pudgy personal guard rushed in with a broad shield.
“Sire!” The man’s puffy little eyes frantically gazed around. He frowned, but to his credit, he grasped Murduk’s arm and held the shield over him. “Come, sire. I know Uruk would want me to get you to the safe place.”
Once Murduk crossed the threshold from the balcony to the throne room, he took in a snarling breath and glanced around. “Where is everyone? Why aren’t the guards here to protect me?”
Several laser spears whooshed behind them and fell to the marble floor.
“And shut those fucking doors!”
At his verbal command, the balcony wall solidified.
“But, my Lord. Don’t you remember? You ordered everyone outside to take care of the mob.”
Goddess dammit! Why couldn’t he have reliable people who’d see the error of that order and leave enough people behind to protect him? Fucking idiots. They should anticipate his every need, not wait for him to spoon-feed information to them. “There’d better be some guards in the hall, or you’ll be joining Uruk in the underground domain of Kur with the demon goddess Ereshkigal.”
Nungal’s washed-out features flushed. “No, I mean, yes, sire!” He turned to the open throne-room door. “Guards! Attend His Highness at once!”
Murduk winced at the shrill tone. Taking the bottom of his tunic, he wiped Uruk’s congealing blood from his face and neck. “And get me something so I can wipe the rest of this shit off.”
A contingent of his personal guards rushed in, laser spears drawn. Without a word, they surrounded him and Nungal.
“Would you like a change of clothes, my liege?” Nungal whipped off his tunic, leaving his bulbous belly bare. With sloppy wipes, he wrapped the cloth around his meaty hand and used it to wipe Murduk’s chest.
Murduk slapped the man’s hands away. “Stop that, you fool. You’re only making it worse.” He examined the dark-red blood soaking his clothes. “No, I will wear this as I address the populace.” He stiffened. “That way, all will see I am with them, spilled blood and all.” He strode to the throne, the guards following closely.
He waved a hand at Nungal. “Open planet-wide communications.” With a sharp turn, he sat on the gilded royal seat of power. Resting his arms on the padded support, he splayed his legs wide, his feet firmly planted on the marble floor.
“Sire!” The new captain of his guard, Ur-Zababa, interrupted as he burst into the room. “We are in transportation range of Earth.”
Finally, a way to turn this around. Murduk sat back with his fingers steepled. “Excellent.” Throughout the room, clear vids appeared with his face and figure prominent. Keeping his features set in a firm, grim countenance, he opened his mouth to speak.
“Citizens of Esharra and the rest of Akurn, our salvation is at hand!”
Several monitors around the room displayed that the fighting on the streets had not abated.
Murduk jumped to his feet. “Special forces, initiate!”
As one, his elite guards stood in place as the small military drones flickered and replicated to face each citizen.
