Ch 1 https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space/forum/38-creations/thread/16426-fan-fiction-the-duke

Ch 2 https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space/forum/38-creations/thread/16382-fan-fict-the-missionary

Ch 3 https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space/forum/38-creations/thread/16383-fan-fict-the-vain-god

Ch 4 https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space/forum/38-creations/thread/16386-fan-fict-the-chained-chancellor

Ch 5 https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space/forum/38-creations/thread/16396-fan-fict-the-silver-paladin

Ch 6 https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space/forum/38-creations/thread/16395-fan-fict-the-doubtful-clerk

Ch 7 https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space/forum/38-creations/thread/16394-fan-fict-the-mad-emperor



Chapter 8

Horatio

Part 1



Glowing orbs float around his beautiful head. As Horatio watches himself in the mirror, he imagines himself to be a sun with the lights orbiting him to be planets, then he thought better of it and decides to be the core of the galaxy as stars zipp by. No, Horatio is obviously the center of the universe and those are galaxies flying around him. He lets a giggle slip through his lips as the orbs emit energy through his pours, rejuvenating dead skin cells back to life, changing the colour of their pigment to a pale cream, with blushed cheeks, dark red lips and dark shadow over his eyes. With his face looking as beautiful as ever he lets his eyes follow the little galaxies as they fly into a gold box upon the vanity table.



Returning back into the mirror, he gives a startled gasp. It wasn’t Horatio staring back at him but Ilos, his eyes full of pain and confusion, the same look he had on his face when Horatio threw him over his balcony to his death. Horatio closes his eyes, his breath coming panicked and haggard. He waits until his breathing became steady once more and opens his eyes. Horatio stares back at him once more, sweet beautiful Horatio.



Why couldn’t he get Ilos out of his head? He had killed his children before. Upon perfecting the cloning process, many of his children died in setbacks and mistakes. Horatio was forced to kill many who had formed a nose out of place, or lips to full, or eyes set to far apart. Why was this any different? After all, Ilos beating him at strategist is just another flaw in the creation process, wasn’t it? Or was it different? Perhaps what bothers Horatio are the implications of one of his clones being able to surpass him. If one of his children defeated him at strategist yesterday, than what about tomorrow?



Horatio sprang from the table in a fury. What was he coming too? He couldn’t even admire his beauty in a mirror anymore.



His reflection didn’t rise with him. Horatio brought his hands to his mouth and muffled a scream.



“Why?” Said Ilos from the mirror. “Why did you kill me?”



Horatio’s immaculate face twisted from fear to rage “Go! Leave me! I can’t have you bother me when I am so close to my victory.”



Ilos only stared back at him with the same look the moment he fell.



“Don’t you give me that look.” Horatio leaned his head back and rested the back of his hand against his forehead. “Your going to make me cry, Ilos, and you know that is not good after a rejuve.”



“Why couldn’t you just be proud of me, father?” cried Ilos, “that’s all I ever wanted”



“Proud?! How could I possibly be proud of you? You… you…. You were a failure. I could care less about the strategist game. The reason I threw you off the balcony was because you had clogged pours.”



Ilos gasped and brought his hands to his face, as if his fingers could cleanse his skin. “You don’t meant that!”



“I do! Now leave! I said LEAVE!” Horatio picks up the gold box of galaxies and throws it at the mirror. The glass shatters and falls into a broken heap. Horatio sighs in relief.



There is a tone and the voice of one of his children sounds in the room.



“Your magnificence, are you okay?”



“Yes child, I’m fine.”



“Shall I escort you to the ball, your wonderfulness?”



Horatio smiles “yes… to the ball.”

Part 2



Horatio’s armada of war ships had gathered at the fringe of United Empire space. Hale’s Redoubt, a relatively useless fringe system had sufficed as a place to refit and retool as his fleets prepared for the final push to the Xenophros system. Although scarce in resources, Hale’s Redoubt is a trading hub for freighters braving the unclaimed systems beyond the safety of Imperial space. The supplies captured from these shipping lanes would be put to good use in the journey to Xenophros. However, the armada had lingered long enough. It is time to move on, but not before Horatio hosted a wonderful party in the ballroom of his new dreadnought, Horatio’s Dream.



The ballroom is lined with sparked statues of Horatio. Each statue showcases the beautiful man in a different pose, provoking wonder and thought in all who gaze upon them. The floor is tiled in mercurite and its ever changing colour casts a luminescent glow on the waterfalls that cascade down from the walls. Servants pace through the room with trays of hor d’oeuvres. Redsang sprinkles, amoeba eggs, blood melons wrapped in proto leaves and much more. Along one wall a band of clones play a Xeno-flute, which projects images into the minds of those who listen, the neural image ever changing depending on the notes they play. The partygoers populate the room, wearing over embellished dresses and robes, laughing and chatting and tasting delicious morsels of food. They are the upper echelon of clones. His commanders and administrators, friends and confidants. Nearly two hundred in all. A wondrous party, and all for Horatio.



As Horatio enters the ball, flanked by a child on each arm, wearing a flowing black silk robe, a golden sash tied around his chest, the room explodes into awe as all in attendance marvel at his beauty. Horatio modestly raises his hands to silence the commotion of applause and excited chatter.



“Children, please… thank you, thank you. Please, my friends, if we were to talk about my ability to make such a fine entrance we would be in Hale‘s Redoubt until the Endless return” The room laughs then finally grows hushed. “The reason I have asked you all here this evening is to give you a taste of the riches that await all of us after we take the galaxy for ourselves. Although in this room we see great beauty, out beyond the walls of this ship the galaxy is cold, dark, and ugly. Can we in good conscious accept this? Can we continue to allow drab and homeliness be the status quo? I say that we can no longer sit idly by. We must work and fight and yes, even die so that we can make to peoples of the galaxy… more like me!”



The room erupted into thunderous applause. Horatio beamed happily until the applause softened than made his circuit of the room. Every beautiful person he talked to was excited and optimistic for the times ahead. He heard the latest rumours from his fleet commanders who had returned from raiding the Inner Rim of Imperial space. Apparently a fleet was massing in Amosa, no doubt fearful of Horatio’s fleets and heading this way. Their departure couldn’t have come at a better time said one child. Another of his children argued that they should stay and destroy this fleet, as they would just have to face it sooner or later, but Horatio disagreed and is eager to set course for his new home, besides after the fleet found nothing in Hale’s Redoubt it is hoped they will make for the Pilgrims, wherever they may be, and the two will destroy each other.



Finally Horatio’s circuit leads him to his child, Casseio.



“Your beautifulness,” said Casseio, “You look absolutely stunning this evening.”



Horatio tittered happily, “thank you, Casseio. That means a lot coming from one with such a wonderful taste in fashion”



Casseio wears a fine green robe embroidered with golden flowers flowing up from a wide brown belt tied around his waste to a high brown collar, topping off the ensemble and matching his belt. In the realm of simple elegance, Horatio himself couldn’t have picked a better outfit.



“The soldiers wanted me to give you thanks for giving them the use of your pleasure barge,” says Casseio.



“They needn’t thank me,” says Horatio, giving off an air of modesty, “They have done such good work and I want them well rested for what lay ahead.



Casseio slips his arm around Horatio’s and the two of them walk through the ball.



“Indeed… sometimes I wonder if they should have been given sexual organs so they could keep themselves in high morale more cheaply, but I suppose in your infinite wisdom, thought better of it.”



He is such a handsome child. “Yes, the prospect of sex conjures up many undesirable emotions in those who must fight and die for their betters. Best to eliminate that element from the equation.”



“Ah, I see your Excellency. That is genius on your part.”



“Thank you, Casseio.”



Horatio stopped suddenly when he saw a strategist board upon a marble pedestal hidden in a nook in the wall, two empty chairs on either side. What was that doing here?



“Care for a game, your Beautifulness?” Asks Casseio in a strange smile, for an instant he looked like Ilos.



Horatio gives a casual smile, “Strategist? No, such a bore. I can think of far more exciting games we could play.”



Casseio’s arm locked around him, he leads Horatio to the board. “Come now, your Excellence. Just one game. We must keep our skills sharp, we don’t know what lies ahead in Xenophros.” Several of his children were watching him. Horatio had the unpleasant feeling he was being manipulated some how. Does Casseio know something about Ilos?



“Cassieo,” starts Horatio, trying his best to sound indifferent. “Why don’t we go upstairs, leave this child’s fancy here and I’ll show you what skills we must really keep sharp.” More of his children are watching.

Casseio laughs and sits down at the board. “Come now, We all know you are the master of strategist, and I have defeated everyone in this room. How can I hope to improve if I do not play one better than myself?”

Many had gathered around now, eager to watch the match between the creator and his top admiral.



Horatio had been backed into a corner he could feel himself begin to sweat, his robe detected the increase in body temperature and begins to cool. He sees no other choice. He sits down at the game board.

Casseio opens the game brazenly. He immediately calls out his Tandu Spider Callers. Horde Spiders move out on the board. Horatio counters with White Ones, defeating the Callers but succumbing to the Horde Spiders.

Casseio smiles as he plays the yellow snake. What strategy is this? He is bringing out his most powerful pieces. Horatio plays his silver wolf. Both pieces kill each other in a fury of hisses and howls.

Next Casseio takes the advantage with his released tribesmen. With his wolf and white ones gone, the game begins to slip from Horatio, then finally he is able to amass just enough points to let loose his bore wyrm. The game is won, but just barely. Horatio gives a laugh of relief as Casseio frowns and shakes his head and his children applaud his victory.



“I was sure I had you, your Eminence. A most thrilling victory. Well done.”



Horatio rises from the game board and continues to mingle with his guests, pleased with his performance at Strategist. He really should play the game more. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he perceived Ilos staring at him, giving a mocking smile, but no. It was only Casseio.

Another great fan fic!

Brilliant writing! You have indeed captured the essence and vanity that is Horatio.