Power Games

by David Applegate

  “Kaede, this is Raijin. He is a Sea Dragon Turtle. He is also one of my closest friends and advisors,” Takahiro said as the turtle rose up out of the water and floated above the lake towards them.

  Kaede looked at the 3m long sea turtle. His massive head was that of an alligator turtle, with a dark red gem embedded in his forehead, and he had a tail like that of the tail end of a snake. His shell had spikes around the edges. He faced Kaede, his large dark eyes blinked, and he opened his mouth. “Nice to meet you, your imperial highness,” a voice emitted from the open mouth.

  “Is that a produce sound spell?” Kaede asked.

  The Dragon nodded, and his flippers transformed into arms and legs, his body shrunk, and his head changed. He was as tall as Takahiro, with the face of an elderly bald human, but his skin was that of a turtle, and a shell covered his torso. Kaede peeked and noticed he still had a tail.

  “It is nice to meet you, Raijin.”

  “I am told you like to play Go?”

  “Yes.”

  “We should play soon.”

  “I would like that.”

  Raijin bowed and walked into the lake. As he slowly submerged, he only made a few ripples and headed north just below the surface. Kaede turned to Takahiro and said, “That was brief.”

  “He rarely has much to say.”

  “I see,” Kaede remarked. He looked at the lake and asked, “Why is Raijin swimming towards the far shore?”

  “There is a tunnel underwater. It leads to a large lift in the wall to take the Dragons from this level to their habitats on subbasement 16, 17 and 18.”

  A 6m eastern water Dragon swam towards them; It had the body of a black-banded sea krait with short and sharp spines down its back. An armoured plate, atop her head, and between the eyes had thick ridges, with two protruding horns on either side. She had a frilled neck and the fins of a krait on her tail. She also had four short, gecko legs. She came right up to the shore and smelt Kaede. He saw that the gem was between her eyes, under the protrusion of her skull plate.

  “Kaede, this is Amaterasu, an eastern water Dragon. She is another one of my advisors,” Takahiro said.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Amaterasu said.

  “As am I,” Kaede said with a slight nod.

  “We have many questions about this mining project,” Amaterasu said.

  “Another time,” Takahiro said.

  “What problems?” Kaede asked.

  “How will you fill the holes?” Amaterasu asked.

  “We will use rock from our asteroid mining,” Kaede replied.

  Amaterasu nodded and retreated into the water.

  Takahiro looked at Kaede and said, “She will find fault with that.”

  “I know it will take many rounds of delicate negotiations to appease their concerns.”

  “Good,” Takahiro said.

  Perched in the distance were three more Dragons. Takahiro waved, and the 6m eastern winged green Dragon flew over and landed beside Takahiro. She bowed, and when Takahiro approached, she batted her eyes and then licked Takahiro’s face.

  The blue-green Dragon had the body of a snake with a large head, with an elongated snout with the eyes and fangs of a mamushi snake. She had four short legs with claws. Her wings head feathers; they looked like those of a giant eagle.

  “I thought Dragon’s spittle was acidic?” Kaede asked.

  “They can control that,” Takahiro replied. He turned to the Dragon and said, “Kaede, this is the Lady Chou. She is an eastern winged green. Do you know her significance?”

  “You killed her mate, and while fighting her, she had you backed into a small cave. You were trapped inside, and it was narrow and not very deep. She stuck her head in to eat you, but you thrust your naginata into her slave collar and freed her,” Kaede replied.

  “Yes, she is the first Dragon to be freed. Together, we freed many other Dragons, who in turn freed others. Soon after all Dragons were free of the Nāga’s slave collars,” Takahiro said.

  “The Nāga retreated underground, and then disappeared,” Chou said.

  “Into the dark dimension?” Kaede asked.

  “Yes. It embarrasses us we didn’t consider the possibility Lilith worked with the Dökkálfar, and some of them built ships for the Nāga,” Chou replied. “We are very sorry, my beloved.”

  Takahiro patted Chou on the side of her face. She fluttered her eyes. Takahiro looked at Kaede, he blushed and pulled back his hand and shoved it into his sleeve. “I, too, never considered it.”

  “Did Lilith know about you and her?” Kaede asked.

  “Yes,” Chou replied.

  “Are you the only one who can transform?” Kaede asked.

  “No, all the Dragons in the Dragon Council can transform,” Chou replied.

  “Even Raijin?” Kaede asked.

  “Yes, he and the Emperor are close,” Chou replied.

  Kaede looked at Takahiro.

  Takahiro glared at Kaede and said, “Raijin is like a brother.”

  “Only I love him,” Chou said.

  “Chou, we talked about this,” Takahiro said.

  “Is that so?” Kaede asked.

  “I love him with all my heart, and we wish to be together forever,” Chou replied.

  Each time Chou talked, Kaede saw her blink, then open her mouth, but her words radiated from the gem embedded in her forehead.

  Kaede said, “It is nice to meet you.”

  Chou lifted her wings, knelt, and then flew off.

  “No need to be embarrassed about having a relationship with a Dragon.”

  Takahiro turned to face Kaede. “Watch what you say to me.”

  Kaede bowed low and said, “Grandfather, I meant no disrespect. I understand why you said I need to step into your shoes when I turn eighteen. I will do all I can so Chou can be with you?”

  Takahiro smiled and whispered, “Thank you.”

  “I know we will have almost resolved the fuel crisis, but it appears we soon could have a problem with either the Nāga, Ogres or Dökkálfar.”

  Takahiro looked at the far shore of the lake and said, “They think Lilith had the Dökkálfar build her ship. We never considered the possibility that her ship vanished because it went into a portal.”

  “You recognised the signature left at the attack on the Exodus ship.”

  “Yes, it reminded me of the one left by Lilith’s ship.”

  Kaede looked at the lake and said, “I am sorry. I know she meant a great deal to you. But she is alive.”

  “What makes you say that?” Takahiro asked.

  “You told me the Dökkálfar respect knowledge and power. They would use her, both as a powerful witch and a skilled engineer,” Kaede said.

  “Maybe. The Dökkálfar are physically the same as us, but they are psychologically different from us,” Takahiro said.

  “I wager many are hiding inside the Empire, most likely as part of the criminal underworld.”

  Takahiro turned to Kaede, “That is a very big if.”

  “From everything you told me about Lilith, she would be alive, and if you cannot find her out there, it means she is hiding amongst us.”

  “Don’t you toy with my emotions,” Takahiro snarled.

  “Think about it. Lilith is a genius and magically active. The Dökkálfar would want to keep her around, and keeping her from you, with no clues to her fate, sounds like the very cruelty they thrive on,” Kaede replied.

  “All this time?” Takahiro asked.

  “The Dökkálfar are not fools.”

  “Most Dökkálfar are insane.”

  “Most of the insane ones would have killed each other by now. As a matter of survival, the Dökkálfar would want strong leaders and a cohesive society to survive. Given that they are at war with the Nāga, they could be a potential ally,” Kaede said.

  “I agree,” a voice behind them said.

  Kaede and Takahiro turned to see a 6m western winged Dragon appear on the shore behind Kaede. The six-metre-lon
g dark green-skinned reptile was a dinosaur with scales, a long tail, and a long narrow jaw with conical teeth. She stood upright on long hind legs that had claws. Her forearms were small and had three finger claws. She had large bat-like wings. Her yellow eyes were huge, with a vertical pupil that was like a gecko.

  “Kaede, this is Venus, a western winged Dragon,” Takahiro said.

  “I apologise for listening in, but we are so sorry we didn’t foresee the Dökkálfar and Nāga getting hold of a spaceship,” Venus said.

  “Hello Venus, and put it in the past, we must consider how to contact Lilith, if she is alive, she would be their leader or close to the leaders,” Kaede said.

  “We have little data to work with, but the Ogre’s talked of a Night Queen, but they don’t know who she is,” Venus said.

  “For years there have been rumours of a pirate queen, the last been an Aos Si by the name of Clare Ó Cianáin,” Takahiro said.

  “Yes, the Ó Cianáin are a matriarchal clan who runs a huge junk operation in Freeport. They have operations on every world in the free states, except the Dragon’s worlds, given they are off-limits to all but a few,” Venus said.

  “Ó Cianáin? Didn’t you recently kill a Conner Ó Cianáin?” Kaede asked.

  “How do you know that?” Takahiro asked.

  “I saw you execute him last month for piracy,” Kaede replied.

  “You’re too young, I told Freya to keep you from seeing the executions,” Takahiro said.

  “It is not her fault. She doesn’t come until noon,” Kaede said in a raised voice.

  “Don’t you raise your voice at me,” Takahiro said.

  “Don’t worry, I will not sneak out again,” Kaede said, he looked down at his shoes.

  “You saw me cut off his head, didn’t you?” Takahiro asked.

  Kaede nodded, still looking at the ground.

  Venus took a few steps back and flew off. Takahiro hugged Kaede and said, “Soon after turning eighteen, your father attended his first execution. The crowd cheered as the head rolled off. He didn’t talk to me for a week, then ran off to join the Navy. I am not going to punish you. Instead, you need to understand that one day, you may have to kill someone.”

  “I felt so scared, but I wanted to laugh. Conner was defiant to the end; I saw the rude gestures he made with his fingers and poked out his tongue at you. When the naginata sliced through his neck, he still had his tongue out.”

  “Did you control your emotions?”

  “I tried to, but I ended up vomiting, and I ran to my room. But I didn’t cry, I swear.”

  “I cried a little the first time I saw my father behead someone. I have so few memories of him.”

  “Why?”

  “We do not have unlimited memory. We cannot control what we forget from our youth.”

  “But you have a memory storage device.”

  “I was already old when Lilith invented the memory storage device.”

  “I know Dain and Abelle are twins, and Abelle was born first, but are they yours?”

  “No, Adamos is their father.”

  “Abelle may look like Dain, but they are nothing alike. Why is he always angry?”

  “Dain is right sometimes; He cannot accept that I bested him with his own rules. He thought that he had considered everything.”

  A 1m western red Dragon flew over and landed.

  “Kaede, the last Dragon is different. Unlike the others, she is not in my employ, but on the Dragon Council,” Takahiro said.

  The red-skinned, bat-winged Dragon had a short reptilian tail, a medium-sized jaw, a broad torso and four legs, like that of an alligator. Each leg had a three-toed claw, the nail of which was long and pointed. Set in the middle of its forehead was a small jewel. Its bat-like wings folded close to the body. The Dragon stood upright and as she walked over to them, transformed into a red reptilian human with long red hair and red reptilian eyes. Her wings wrapped around her body as she approached and turned into a short red leather dress. The dress had three splits, one on each side, and another at the back for her tail. Her feet had red leather open-toed alligator-skin shoes.

  Kaede bowed. “Queen Clíodhna, it is an honour to make your acquaintance.”

  “It is my pleasure,” Clíodhna said as she bowed to Kaede.

  Kaede noticed that her dress and shoes were her Dragon skin. As he bowed, he saw that she had three toes and that she only had three fingers.

  “Takahiro, I have considered your request for mining rights, but I must deny it,” Clíodhna said as she faced Kaede.

  Kaede noticed not just her eyes, but her long forked tongue was the same as when in her Dragon form.

  “I respect your decision. However, may I know why?” Takahiro asked.

  Clíodhna said to Kaede, “I like the offer from Kaede more.”

  “He made an offer?” Takahiro asked.

  “Yes,” Clíodhna replied. “However, we require some changes before we can commit to a contract.”

  “What do you need?” Kaede asked.

  “Kaede, what are you doing?” Takahiro asked.

  “I want a guarantee that all starships, ports, and smart robots are the latest technology, and if you improve the technology within the warranty period, you will upgrade at cost,” Clíodhna replied.

  “I can do that,” Kaede said.

  “Kaede, will you use Hashimoto Constructions to build your space docks?” a worried Takahiro asked.

  Clíodhna cocked her head, “Emperor, we want full control of any new dock in our space.”

  “Grandfather, if I need to subcontract work out, I will. But not without permission of the Dragons,” Kaede said.

  “I see,” Takahiro replied.

  “When can I see your new robots?” Clíodhna asked Kaede.

  “What new robots?” Takahiro asked.

  “We are developing a range of robot workers with Simulated Intelligence using Neural Networks,” Kaede replied, “But as I explained to Clíodhna, there are legal issues that prevent us from constructing the prototype.”

  “Have you worked on a Dragon piloting a starship?” Clíodhna asked.

  “We are working on a thought-controlled device that you will wear. It will provide you with a virtual reality environment that will allow a Dragon to interact with the ship using a robot, and issue orders to the robotic crew,” Kaede replied.

  “Will it work for a blue Dragon?” Clíodhna asked.

  “Once we have a working prototype, we can work on technical issues,” Kaede replied.

  Clíodhna turned to Takahiro and bowed to him. “Emperor, you have raised him well. We value our freedom and his domestic helper robots will help us achieve that.”

  “Will you be giving us a chance to amend our proposals?” Takahiro asked.

  “Kaede Enterprises, and its various subsidiaries, including, but not limited to The Kaede Mining Company, Kaede Agriculture, Kaede Contractions and Kaede Resource Recovery, in partnership with The Dragon Partnership has exclusive rights to all commercial resources in all eight of our systems,” Clíodhna replied.

  “Kaede Resource Recovery?”

  “Kaede Resource Recovery is a recycling company that includes macro recycling.”

  “Macro recycling?” Takahiro asked.

  “We remove and store topsoil as windbreaks around any area we mine, not just open cut. When mining has finished, we will fill the mine with liquefied rock from asteroids, then use the windbreaks to resurface the area, and cover it with grass. Orbiting space stations will process resources and recycle waste,” Kaede replied.

  “Amazing,” Takahiro said.

  “Have you finished the design of the new homes?” Clíodhna asked.

  “Yes,” Kaede replied with a nod.

  “I shall be in contact with the lawyers to work out the finer details. Once you have resolved all the legal issues, the oil is yours,” Clíodhna said.

  “Only half the profits,” Kaede remarked.

  Clíodhna bowed low to Kaede
. “I look forward to working with you, but you have much to learn. I shall teach you.”

  Kaede returned the bow. “I accept your offer.”

  “Clíodhna?” Takahiro asked.

  Large wings sprouted from Clíodhna’s back, and without replying to Takahiro, she transformed back into her Dragon form and flew away. Takahiro turned to Kaede and said, “If I can process and sell that oil, gold and marble, then not only will I build you that sports car, but you can also drive it.”

  “Sell me the car company, and I pay you in oil.”

  “Deal.”

  “You will not like this, but we need Dain’s help.”

  Takahiro’s face went pale. With raised brows and bulged eyes, he loudly exclaimed, “What!”

  “We need his vote to change the laws on robotics and AI.”

  Takahiro’s jaw was tight. He muttered, “You are right. But I warn you, Dain will demand a high price for his vote.”

  “No. To cut Dain off, you will go to Patya and tell him that I secured the mineral rights, including oceans of oil in the Dragon systems, but there is a catch, the Dragons want a three per cent share and lift the ban on androids.”

  “Patya will reject it, as he is worried it will lead to workers losing their high-skilled jobs to Clockworks and Androids.”

  “I know many are against the deal. That is why I am offering each house a three per cent share of Kaede Mining. They will pay for the shares with oil from the Dragon worlds to Hashimoto Resources, but make it clear, without a change in the law, the Dragons will not give us a cup of warm piss.”

  “Are you sure?” Takahiro asked.

  “This deal is not possible without the use of androids. We need it to be legal to make full AI systems. Start high and allow Patya to talk you down to five per cent of total robotics. We improve the rest using simulated intelligence.”

  “I see.”

  “We need the amount of robotics permitted in any one factory to be 40 per cent of the total number of full-time employees, with up to 90 per cent in space.”

  “That will be difficult. Workers could walk out on us.”

  “We offer workers a 30-hour workweek, increased benefits, including six weeks’ holidays, at their current wage.”