(Four Parts. 5400 words)
Note: This is the draft form of this story.
One
Nigeria wasn’t what Alm had expected. It was crowded and chaotic. The city and its residents had no sense of order. He wondered how anyone knew where they were going, what they were supposed to be doing. It was no wonder they didn’t recognize the twelfth son of Emperor Al.
Alm nearly tripped as a rusty ship streaked by. He decided to act. In what he believed was the correct human response, he raised his fist and shook it.
“Do you need a ride?”
Alm blinked. Another ship had stopped before him. The woman inside was not of Earth … but not of the Al systems either. Alm hadn’t been warned that Earth hosted other sentient beings. Then again, the translator he had been provided upon landing was preloaded with millions of languages. And Nigeria was the planet’s capital.
“Yes. In fact, I do need a ride,” Alm replied.
But the ship was gone. It had driven further up the street. The woman was already talking to another being who had emerged from the overcrowded planetary welcome center.
Alm raised his first again.
Another ship appeared. “Do you need a ride?” the driver asked.
Alm learned from his mistake. “Yes.” The ship door lifted and allowed him entry. He settled into the uncomfortable seat alongside the strange smelling human driver. The ship’s interior was littered with paper, plastics, and morsels of alien food.
“Where to?” the human asked. He looked in worse shape than the ship. His three rows of teeth were sharpened to a point and his green hair hung well past his shoulders. It looked as if he had purposefully discolored his skin with ink. On second thought, Alm wasn’t sure if the driver was human.
“Take me to see the prince,” Alm replied quickly.
The driver seemed to laugh. “The prince, you say?”
“Yes. The prince of Nigeria.”
“Does this prince have a name? There are many princes in Nigeria.”
Alm hummed to himself in thought. There should have only been one prince. Emperor Al had nineteen formally recognized children, but only the eldest was a prince. Based on what he had seen of Earth, he should have guessed that there would be multiple claims upon the throne.
“I need a name, my friend,” the driver said. “I’m losing money by sitting here.”
Thinking quickly, Alm opened his screen and read the message sent by the prince. Fortunately, the prince had signed his name at the bottom. “Prince Usman. That is his name.”
The drive clapped his hands together. “Ah! Prince Usman. Of course.” He turned to Alm. “Do you have an appointment with the prince? Appointments are required.”
Alm hesitated. He didn’t have an appointment. “I do not. The prince would not reply to my requests for a meeting.”
“You’re in luck,” the driver said. “I know the prince personally. I can arrange an appointment. For a fee of course.”
*
The prince’s palace wasn’t what Alm had expected. It was at least the ninth tallest building in the capital and far from the most modern. However, it did stand in the city center. That was important. The gardens surrounding the building were filled with tall trees and brightly-colored animals. There was no telling which worlds they were from.
True to his word, the driver led Alm through an automated entrance and into a crowded lobby. There were species from half a dozen systems already in line. All looked angry.
“I do not intend on waiting,” Alm said flatly. “I am the twelfth son of Emperor Al.”
“No need to wait. You have an appointment.” The driver grinned. “Place your hand on my arm. Don’t stop for anyone, despite what you hear through your translator.”
It was harder than Alm expected. Never had he been called such names. Never had he heard of so many gods and goddess. Never had he thought to wish someone fell into a black hole or was caught in the wake of an exploding star. Fortunately, he had a readymade response – a raised fist.
Moments later, the driver knocked on a wooden door. Then he turned to Alm. “He’s inside. Make sure you bow. Prince Usman respects the old ways.”
“Thank you,” Alm said. He touched his screen against the driver’s. “A tip. To clean up your ship.”
The driver laughed. “Good luck, my friend.”
Alm crossed the threshold as soon as the door opened. The sudden movement of the elevator startled him. However, by the time it arrived at the top of the building, he had composed himself. He would not be made a fool of in front of the prince. His father was counting on him.
Prince Usman sat behind a desk in a tall chair. His office overlooked the city. Flying ships and birds soared through the purple sky. Somehow, none collided with one another.
Alm did not forget to bow.
“Alm, son of Emperor Al,” the prince said, rising to his feet. He leaped over his desk and shook Alm’s hand. “I am so sorry that I did not respond to your messages. I could not allow my rivals to know that you were coming in person. How can I help you?”
“My father has donated a substantial sum to your cause,” Alm said. “I am here to ensure his resources are being spent properly, to ensure that you are close to taking the crown of Earth.”
The prince smiled. “Not the crown of Earth. The crown of the universe.” He pointed to a door at the other end of his office. “Follow me, Alm. The battle is underway.”
Two
Alm followed Prince Usman through a series of dark and crowded rooms. To his eye, the rooms looked to be filled with junk, but the prince assured him everything was valuable. Unfortunately, Alm didn’t have time to compare any of the items against similar goods listed on the Earth’s electronic marketplace. The prince moved quickly, eager to demonstrate how he had made good use of Emperor Al’s generous donations.
“Is there really a crown of the universe?” Alm asked once the prince had slowed. They were in yet another dark room. This one was relatively empty. A tree thick with blue leaves blocked the view from the only window. “I was unaware that the universe had a crown.”
“Ah! That is because it is a well-kept secret,” Prince Usman replied enthusiastically. “Those who know of its existence do not advertise it. All want the power of the crown for themselves.”
“Then why tell me?”
The prince stopped before a heavy metal door and turned to face Alm. For the first time, Alm realized how tall the human was. At least two Alms taller than Alm himself.
“Your father is my largest investor,” the prince replied in his smooth voice. “That makes us partners. If I succeed, then Emperor Al succeeds.”
Alm nodded. It was the same offer the prince had presented in his messages. “You promised that if you were to claim the crown, our investment would be returned tenfold.”
“That I did! Money matters not to the king of the universe!” Prince Usman exclaimed. He bent down and placed a firm hand on Alm’s shoulder. “You must speak to no one – but your father of course – of what is behind this door. If any of the other princes knew my war room was inside my palace, they would attempt to breach it. Promise me that you won’t tell anyone.”
In the Al systems, promises were only made to those in the same social class. Alm needed to ensure that he gave his word to true royalty.
In silence, Alm took in the human’s appearance. Prince Usman wore a jacket and pants of the same shade of violet and a tie that sparkled in the flickering overhead lights. His head and face were clean shaven. His teeth were human-shaped and very white. His eyes were as dark as his skin. He looked just as Alm imagined a human prince would.
“You have my word,” Alm said after a moment.
“Thank you, my friend.”
Bearing a broad smile, the prince entered a complex code into the door’s locking mechanism and pushed it open. Once Alm was inside, the prince closed the door and locked it with a heavy bar.
Alm followed the prince forward and found himself on a ledge. Below were tens of thousands of holographic representations of what appeared to be robotic soldiers. They were cast in a variety of colors. Blue was by far the most numerous. More interestingly, they appeared to be fighting one another. Their laser guns were of an unfamiliar make and model but appeared effective.
“This is the current state of the war,” the prince explained. “Every prince in Nigeria is fighting for the crown. These are their armies.”
“How many claims to the crown are there?” Alm asked.
“Currently, eleven. There used to be over fifty,” Prince Usman replied. “Of course, my claim is the most legitimate. My ancestors were the first to rule the universe.”
“And the other princes?”
“Offshoots of the royal line. They have refused to acknowledge my family’s claim for millennia. But in their hearts, they know who the rightful king is.”
“Who wears the crown now?”
Prince Usman laughed. “No one. The crown has been vacant since the Great Flight.” As he spoke, he stepped to a terminal overlooking the virtual battlefield. “My ancestors forsook the crown when their planet died. They packed up all their things in their ships and left Areth to come to Earth. Rather than risk defeat and the crown falling into the wrong hands, they left it behind, knowing that one day the rightful heir would return to claim it.”
“So why not go the Areth and reclaim it?”
“The soldiers below are mechanical for a reason. The atmosphere of Areth is toxic. Any who step foot on the planet will die a horrible death,” the prince replied. “The rules of the ongoing engagement are simple. The crown must be fought and won in this very room. Whoever controls the last soldier standing wins the crown.”
Alm studied the battle below for a time. “Which color belongs to you? Blue?”
“Unfortunately not.” Prince Usman sighed. “Blue is the army of my half-brother, Prince Bennet. He has proven himself to be quite the strategist. He has recently aligned with Prince Obi … after betraying Prince Jon. His numbers have tripled in the last year.”
Alm narrowed his eyes and hardened his voice. Something about Prince Usman did not seem entirely forthright. Had he somehow been deceived?
“Which color are you?” Alm asked, clenching his fist.
“Green.”
Alm surveyed the battlefield, then returned his gaze to the prince. For all his confidence and smiles, the prince appeared to have no acumen for war. “You have the seventh most soldiers remaining. My father’s contributions should have you well ahead of any other prince. A true prince would have already won this war.”
Prince Usman’s reply was quick. “Robotic soldiers are precariously expensive. Other systems have invested heavily in the claim of Prince Bennet.”
“You are surrounded,” Alm said flatly. “Your soldiers are all but finished.”
Prince Usman licked his lips. Sweat dripped from his brow. “That … is why I showed the state of the battle. I need you to ask your father for more money. I need more soldiers!”
“There will be no further donations.”
“But … we’ve come so close. You risk losing everything if I surrender my claim now.”
“There will be no surrender,” Alm said. “My father sent me to Earth to ensure that you would claim the crown, that our investment would be returned. You will take me Areth. Immediately.”
“Take you to Areth…” the prince hesitated. “You will die if you step foot on that planet.”
Alm shook his head. “My ship will take us to Areth, and I will win you the crown of the universe.”
“You don’t understand, Alm,” Prince Usman said. “The crown is locked away. Only I can retrieve it. If I step onto Areth, I die. If I die, I won’t be able to retrieve the crown.”
Alm could sense the human’s anxiety. It was unbefitting of a prince. “If you stay here, your soldiers will be defeated and your claim to the crown lost.”
“Not if I can secure additional funding!”
“If you stay here, I will win this war for another prince,” Alm said. “My father has forbidden any further donations to your cause, but not the cause of any other prince.”
Prince Usman was silent for a moment. Then, he grinned. “Areth can only be reached by the best of pilots. I will summon my favored driver!”
Three
“You did not tell me that you were the favored driver of the prince,” Alm said.
“And you did not tell me that you planned to travel to Areth,” the possibly-human driver said. His grin exposed his overabundance of sharpened teeth. When Alm did not return his positive expression, the possible-human sighed. “I meant no offense by not revealing my identity. Prince Usman told me that a foreign dignitary would be arriving today, but you saw the others in the lobby of his palace. All of them arrived today. All of them are donors.”
Annoyed, Alm returned his gaze ahead. The star system of the humans was polluted with debris, reminding him of the crowded rooms within the prince’s palace. If that building had actually been a palace. The more he thought over his current situation, the more Alm believed the prince was deceiving him, that the prince had taken advantage of his family.
Prince Usman had claimed Alm’s quarters after conveniently falling ill during takeoff. Clearly, he was afraid of confrontation. Another attribute unfitting of royalty. Especially royalty with a strong claim to the crown of the universe. If there was such a crown.
Prince Usman looked and spoke like a prince. But he did not act like one.
“Why do you follow Prince Usman?” Alm asked presently. “He is not the richest prince, nor the most physically powerful. He is not a good general. What has earned your loyalty, driver?”
“My name is Uzo,” the driver replied.
“I did not ask for your name.”
The driver took a deep breath. “On Earth, we do not care who is the strongest or the richest, we follow those who move our hearts.”
“And how has the prince moved your heart?”
“He cares about his people,” the driver replied. “That is why he is at a disadvantage in the war. The other princes spend every donation on their armies. Prince Usman makes sure the people of Nigeria have food and clean water, that children do not grow sick and die.”
Alm frowned. In the Al systems, those who could not survive died. That was the way of life. “And when he loses the crown? What can he do for the people then?”
“He will continue to fight for us until the end of his days.”
Alm returned to his study of the stars. After some time, he summoned the ship’s navigation controls. A display of the human-ruled systems appeared before him. “Show me where Areth is.”
The driver chuckled. “Areth is not on any map.”
“Then how will we find it?”
“Only the princes know its exact location.”
“Then why are you here?”
The driver grinned his eerie grin. “The prince does not know how to pilot a ship.”
*
Alm stood before the door leading to the ship’s outermost chamber. A series of screens floated before him, displaying the features of the planet’s atmosphere. The prince and the driver stood behind him. No one had spoken since they had descended to the planet’s surface. Alm could sense the humans’ unease.
The existence of Areth did not surprise Alm. The humans could have selected any planet among the hundreds of lifeless rocks that populated their galaxy. What was surprising was that Areth showed signs of a fallen civilization. The atmosphere was far from lethal, however, it could have certainly been at some point in the distant past. As ever, the prince’s claims proved to have some merit.
Alm carefully considered his next action. His duty was to fulfill his mission to his father, to ensure that the empire had not been swindled. The Al systems did not possess the militaristic might of its neighbors. Peace and conquest were brokered through bribes and trade. With the return on investment the prince had promised, Emperor Al would secure both his line and legacy. If the investment wasn’t returned, if the funds had been squandered…
Alm turned to face the pair of humans. The prince had seemingly regained his wits. He had replaced his purple clothing with similar garments made of a bright blue material. His skin had somewhat paled, otherwise, there was no sign of sickness. The driver stood at the prince’s side, teeth exposed in what Alm now knew to be a nervous smile.
“I have printed a suit for each of you,” Alm said. “As long as you wear it, the planet will not harm you.”
The prince nodded. “The atmosphere must have significantly detoxified. If this were known, all the princes would travel to Areth and attempt to claim the crown. Fortunately, none dare to send human pilots to drop off soldiers. In fact, none of the ships ever land because of the storms. They airdrop the soldiers directly onto the battlefront.”
Again, the prince’s words proved at least partially true. Alm had attempted to scan the surface of Areth before landing. However, definitive imaging was impossible due to the dust storms that clouded the planet’s surface. The only way to prove the actual state of the war and its combatants was to enter the warzone in person.
“I’ve placed us on the edge of the battle,” Alm said. “You’re certain the crown is near?”
“Yes. The armies fight on the streets of what was once the capital,” Prince Usman replied. His words were confident. “The crown was sealed away inside the ancient palace.”
Alm nodded. “Good. Put on your suits and follow me.”
“Wait,” the prince said. “You’re just going to walk through the battle? There are thousands of robots shooting at each other out there. Shouldn’t we destroy them with your ship? Perhaps a missile?”
“We did not bring any weapons,” the driver added.
“My ship is not fitted for war,” Alm lied. “I will ensure your safety.”
“You do not look much like a warrior,” the driver said.
Alm gave the humans his best smile. “Looks can be deceiving.”
*
Alm had never been on an abandoned planet before.
It seemed impossible that an entire civilization had uprooted and fled to another world. He wondered what had happened to Areth, if the humans had tried to save it … if it had ever been a human planet at all. Through the swirling dust, he studied the shells of once-towering buildings, thinking of what the city had once been. He imagined it had looked something like the capital of Earth. Crowded and chaotic.
Alm frowned as he passed an intact building. It was much shorter than those he had seen on Earth. Additionally, there were no signs of plant and animal life, of the nutrition the humans counted on for survival. The atmosphere was toxic to humans, but other species should have adapted and thrived without interference from a dominate species.
Presently, Alm came to a stop and looked down. What he initially assumed was a road was no more than a flat layer of rock that made up the planet’s surface. Of course, the ancient humans wouldn’t have needed roads if they had ships. Again, Alm wished he had been able to scan the planet’s surface. Something felt wrong about Areth.
“According to your map, we are near the city center,” Alm said to the prince. “I have yet to see evidence of any battle, of any robotic soldiers.”
“There are far less than there used to be,” Prince Usman replied. His features were hidden behind his fitted helmet. “As I told you in my palace, the fight for the crown has nearly reached its end.”
“If soldiers have been defeated, then where are their parts?”
“Salvaged or swept away by the wind. Robotic soldiers are programmed to repair themselves. If they collect enough spare parts, they can even rebuild entire units.”
Alm narrowed his eyes. If there were no soldiers, then there was no crown. If there was no crown, then his father’s funds were gone. For the first time, he addressed his concerns with the humans, “If you have lied to me, then I will—”
“Look out!” the driver shouted.
Alm whirled and discovered a battalion of steel soldiers advancing toward their position. They stood as tall as the prince, with features somewhat resembling those of a human. Alm noted the precision of their movements, the sigils painted across their chests, and the laser rifles that each wielded. But despite their apparent prowess, the eight soldiers were no match for a son of Emperor Al.
As Alm prepared to act, the prince placed a gloved hand on his shoulder.
“Wait,” the prince said. “It is a trap.”
Before Alm could respond, another human voice filled the air. “Prince Usman! You have broken the rules of engagement. Surrender, and I may allow you and your allies to live!”
Four
Alm bared his teeth in frustration. Prince Usman had been proven right. The first group of soldiers had been a distraction. Hundreds now surrounded them. Every rifle was pointed in their direction. Infuriatingly, those hundreds were not thousands. Again, Alm did not know if Prince Usman spoke the truth about their number of enemies … or if he spoke the truth about anything at all.
“How did someone know we were coming?” Alm hissed.
“One of the other princes must have defeated my soldiers while we were in transit,” Prince Usman replied. “It is expected that a prince will formally surrender when defeated. When I did not respond to communication, they presumably searched my palace. When I was not inside my palace, it was obvious where I had gone.”
“They beat us to Areth,” Alm said flatly. “How?”
The driver chuckled. “Your ship is slow.”
Alm seethed. His ship was far from slow. It had been the prince and the driver who had charted the course to Areth. Had they been in communication with the other prince? Were all the princes conspiring together? But, if they were truly conspiring together, they could have easily killed him. Then again, they had no way of knowing that the Al systems did not have the strength to retaliate.
Alm clenched his fist in frustration. It was impossible to tell if all was as it seemed. He had no choice but to take the situation as it appeared.
“Are you truly a warrior, Alm?” Prince Usman asked. “Can you defeat our enemies?”
The question surprised Alm. “It depends,” he replied. “If there are more soldiers, I cannot guarantee success.”
Prince Usman grinned. “Fortunately, there are no guarantees in life. If you believe it can be done, then attack when the opportunity presents itself. I will place my life in your hands, Alm.”
*
Sometime later, a lanky man emerged from the dust, wearing a spacesuit that sparkled with countless gemstones. It was of a more primitive variety than Alm had made for Prince Usman and the driver, but it appeared to function well enough.
“Prince Bennet,” Prince Usman replied. “I should have known it was you.”
Prince Bennet laughed. “As ever, I am your superior, brother. Your attempt at stealing the crown of the universe was ill-advised. In your absence, I was able to eliminate all the other claims.”
“Eliminate? So quickly?”
“Aye. I offered an alliance against you, the prince who broke the rules of this war. Everyone was more than happy to accept titles in my court.”
“Have you betrayed them yet, like you did to Prince Jon? Does Prince Obi know that you were the one who betrayed his brother, that you assassinated him?”
“I did not such thing,” Prince Bennet replied with a smirk. “I would never break the rules. The only battlefront in this war is on Areth. You are the rulebreaker, brother.”
Prince Usman shook his head. “I have broken no rules. I did not come to Areth willingly.” He pointed a long finger at Alm. “I was kidnapped by one of my donors.”
At first, Alm met the prince’s eyes with disgust … then with understanding. Prince Usman had just placed his life in Alm’s hands. As promised. Alm frowned inwardly. What were Prince Usman’s words worth? Could he trust the prince? A decision had to be made.
“And who are you?” Prince Bennet asked Alm. “I do not recognize your species.”
“I am Alm, the twelfth son of Emperor Al,” Alm replied. “The Al systems are Prince Usman’s greatest donor.”
“And you forced him to come here?”
Alm nodded. “As soon as I saw the state of his army, I began to question the character of Prince Usman. When he asked for more donations, I refused. I demanded to see the battlefront with my own eyes. Now that I know this foolish human has lied, that he has squandered my father’s goodwill, I intend to destroy him in an act of retribution.”
Prince Bennet beamed in approval. “And how will you destroy him?”
Alm faced Prince Usman. He replied truthfully, “Ritualistic execution.”
Prince Bennet clapped his hands together. “It is only fair. My brother has broken the rules of engagement and wasted your father’s invaluable time and resources. In death, his spirit will soon be joined by those of the other princes.”
Prince Usman gasped. “You plan to kill the others?”
“I have no choice, brother. As long as there are others alive with a claim to the throne, my reign as king of the universe will be challenged. Certainly, Alm understands.”
Alm nodded. He did understand. Before he was born, Emperor Al had exiled his brothers and sisters. When Alm’s sister Ala took the throne, she would do the same. It was only logical.
Alm pointed at Prince Usman and driver. “Kneel.” The humans complied. The driver was visibly shaking. Prince Usman seemed at peace. “Prince Usman, you have failed to deliver on your promise to Emperor Al. As his emissary, I sentence you to death.”
“And me?” the driver asked.
“I’ll handle this, Alm. This mutt is worthless,” Prince Bennet said. A missile of energy struck the driver in the chest. His body collapsed, smoke rising from the hole in his torso.
“Murderer!” Prince Usman roared. “He did nothing wrong!”
Prince Bennet chuckled. “His blood is on your hands, brother.”
Alm stared at Prince Usman. The time of choosing had arrived. To kill Prince Usman, meant that his father’s funds would be forever lost, that the Al systems would be vulnerable. To kill Prince Bennet meant a chance at retrieving the crown of the universe and recouping his father’s investment but also a chance at being slain by the prince’s robot soldiers.
But Alm still did not understand every piece of the puzzle. There was no true evidence that Areth had once been the home of the human race. That there was an ongoing war on the planet. That the princes weren’t conspiring together. That there was even a crown of the universe.
Meaning there was only one certainty on which to make his decision. Alm had come to Earth to ensure that his father’s investment was repaid with interest, that the future of the Al systems was financially secure. He could not return to his father’s court without making every effort to ensure that his mission was successful.
“Prince Bennet,” Alm said calmly. “My father has authorized me to invest additional funds at my discretion. Will you accept my investment with the same terms that Prince Usman agreed to?”
“Why would I do that?” Prince Bennet asked.
“To secure your claim to the crown of the universe.”
Prince Bennet erupted in laughter. “My claim is already secure. I no longer have need for additional investors. As the king of the universe, my financial reserves are limitless.”
A blade extended from the sleeve of Alm’s suit. Alm leapt upward and drove its point through Prince Bennet’s helmet and deep into his flesh. The prince’s body fell to the ground.
As the robotic soldiers raised their weapons, Alm activated the thrusters in his boots and launched himself high into the air. His shield deflected the first wave of lasers. Before the second arrived, he retrieved a metallic sphere from his waist and threw it toward the surface of Areth.
A wave a lightning exploded outward from the weapon, washing over the mechanical soldiers. They collapsed upon themselves, nothing more than charred parts and melted wire. Their guns clattered against the stone. As ever, mechanical soldiers were liabilities in a true battle.
Silence claimed the capital city of Areth.
“Prince Usman,” Alm said upon landing. “It is time for you to claim the crown.”
*
Alm followed Prince Usman into the city’s largest building. It looked far more like a palace than the prince’s tower in Nigeria. Within, the structure was filled with statues. Faded murals adorned its stone walls. Ancient carpet crumbled to dust beneath their boots.
“The crown is hidden beneath the throne,” the prince said. Alm could hear the anxiety in his voice. Prince Usman realized that if the crown were gone, or if there was no crown, that Alm would destroy him. “As soon as I place it upon my head, I will be able to access the royal reserves and make good on my promise.”
Alm raised his fist in an unspoken threat.
“I will of course double the amount promised due to your exemplary service,” Prince Usman added. “Without you, I would never have won the crown.”
Moments later, Alm waited as Prince Usman searched the base of the throne for a lock. Just as Alm summoned his blade, the prince turned back with a piece of stone in his hand.
“There is a genetic lock on the container within,” Prince Usman explained after tossing away the stone. “Only the blood of true royalty can open it.”
“Then open it,” Alm said flatly.
Prince Usman reached into his boot and retrieved a small vial filled with blood. “I took this before we exited your ship so as not to expose my skin to the Areth’s atmosphere. You may have noticed that I was a bit pale.”
When Alm didn’t reply, the prince lowered himself to the ground, opened the vial, and carefully poured the blood into the hole at the base of the throne.
Alm was prepared for anything. Another ambush by the remaining princes or their robots. An attempted assassination by Prince Usman or his supposedly-dead driver. He would not be taken surprise. Either the human prince would deliver on his promise, or he would be destroyed.
“At last!” Prince Usman exclaimed. He stood and raised a radiant crown over his head. “The crown is mine! I am the king of the universe!”
“Congratulations,” Alm said, surprised. “As soon as I have my funds, I will be—”
Alm leapt back in shock as a rift appeared in the air. On the other side of the rift was a chamber filled with unimaginable riches. More gold and gems than Alm had ever seen. Enough for the Al systems to flourish for centuries to come.
“Alm, I have another offer for your father,” Prince Usman said. “As king of the universe, I no longer have need for funds. However, I do have other needs. In exchange for everything you see before you, I ask for ships and raw materials from the Al systems.”
The implication was obvious.
“You are the king of universe,” Alm said. “What use do you have to start a war?” Prince Usman grinned. “Ah, but this is only one universe!”
THE END