Kinnit and Grimthorn walked into the throne room of the Emperor, the pinnacle of power in the Imperium.

  Grimthorn's stomach flip-flopped. He kept his face rigidly controlled as he scanned the throne room.

  It was massive and open. Pillars ringed the chamber. Blue sky and clouds were visible between the marble columns. A gentle, pleasant breeze blew through. White marble covered the floor. A round, red carpet-- the supplicant's station-- was laid out in front of the stairs to the throne. The throne itself, made of blue marble and lined with gold, was impossibly far away, atop a sweeping flight of stairs. Seated in the throne was the Emperor himself.

  Grimthorn dropped his eyes to avoid looking at the Emperor, as protocol demanded. He bowed his head. A quick glance at Kinnit affirmed that she had her head down as well. He breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't frozen.

  "Just like we practiced," he muttered quietly. "You'll be just fine."

  They each took three steps forward, toward the supplicant's station.

  "I request to enter the Emperor's presence," they said in unison.

  There was a long pause from the throne. Grimthorn sweated. This was an opportunity for the Emperor to send them away, if they'd displeased him. He kept his head respectfully bowed.

  "You follow the old forms," came the voice from the throne. "Few today know them. Fewer still follow them. You may approach."

  Stiffly, Grimthorn and Kinnit marched forward in a steady cadence, arriving at the supplicant's station. The blood-red carpet was thick and deep, nearly twelve feet across.

  They walked into the center of it. They both sank down on their right knees, putting their right fists on the ground.

  "All hail the Imperium!" they cried.

  "All hail," the Emperor responded. "Rise."

  They rose to their feet as one, staring straight ahead, never at the throne.

  As the senior, it was Grimthorn's duty to go first.

  "I am Admiral Grimthorn Stonefist," he said in a ringing voice, "I would speak with the Emperor."

  Kinnit followed suit, her voice clear and strong.

  "I am Assistant Kinnit Longlegs, I would speak with the Emperor."

  "Very well, very well." the Emperor said. The acoustics of the room carried his voice to them perfectly, even though he was speaking at a normal volume. "I know who you both are. I appreciate the old forms as much as anyone, but we dropped them for a reason. Please, simply speak."

  Grimthorn froze with his mouth half-open. There was supposed to be another ten minutes or so of formality.

  "Y-your Imperial Majesty..." he began. He tried to mentally jump ahead through the ceremonies he'd so carefully planned for. All his carefully planned words flew away. "I..."

  "What have you come to speak with me about, Admiral?" the Emperor's voice was brisk, but not unkind.

  "If it please your Imperial Majesty," Kinnit broke in, "we came to talk about this conspiracy."

  "Yes?"

  Kinnit's intervention had broken Grimthorn's mental logjam. He gave her a quick, relieved smile of thanks and turned toward the Emperor.

  "Your Imperial Majesty, we believe we are nearly at the point of breaking the conspiracy-- the Bolt of Justice-- wide open. With the arrest of one of their primary members, we will soon have the ability to--"

  "Admiral Stonefist, you may look up here, please. I don't want to talk to the top of your head. You as well, Assistant Kinnit."

  Grimthorn's mouth locked open again. He looked up.

  The Emperor sat in his throne in full regalia: red velvet, white silk, and gold. He was gaunt, his skin was taut against his skull. His appearance was a bit of a shock. Grimthorn had expected him to be fleshier. At his elbow stood a Cryptographer, its blank goggles staring back at them.

  "Admiral, your information about the conspiracy is out of date."

  "What? I mean, what, your Imperial Majesty?"

  "The conspiracy is already broken." He held up one finger. "Eklin Denth the Captain. Captured and currently undergoing intensive questioning by the Cryptographers." He raised another finger. "Rax Daggoth the industrialist. Arrested and in an Imperial cell, cooperating with our inquiries." Another finger came up. "Idrian Sertu, the courtier. Summarily executed." A fourth finger. "Senn Sehren, the media specialist. Escaped capture by setting off an explosion in downtown Techterra, but no longer has access to his finances or facilities. I'd say the conspiracy has been well and truly broken."

  Grimthorn's mouth closed tightly. All his struggle and work, and most of it was done while he wasn't looking. Furthermore, the promising leads he'd planned to share were meaningless, with nearly everyone caught.

  How could he ask for a boon now?

  "That's wonderful news, your Imperial Majesty!" Kinnit chirped.

  The Emperor smiled indulgently.

  "You're quite right, dear."

  Grimthorn's mouth worked a couple times before he could find words to speak.

  "Wh-what of Koro Melemann?" Grimthorn asked.

  "He was no part of the conspiracy. He was a simply an old spy who couldn't let go of the work. Used by Sehren Senn."

  Grimthorn was crestfallen.

  "I... I'm so very sorry for wasting your Imperial Majesty's time," he managed in a strained voice.

  "Admiral, you don't personally have to capture every conspirator in the galaxy. It's not your role anyway. Now what did you really come here for?"

  "Y-your Imperial Majesty?"

  "Admiral, nobody requests an audience with the Emperor of the Imperium without having at least three layers of schemes planned. Your approach, while refreshingly hamfisted, is no different." He looked at Grimthorn, considering. "If it's any comfort, I do know of your role in breaking the conspiracy. It was your efforts that brought Denth down and allowed the entire conspiracy to be unwound."

  "It was Kinnit," Grimthorn managed.

  "I'm sorry?"

  "It was Assistant Kinnit who was responsible for bringing down Denth. Without her, we'd be..." he paused, trying to think back through all she'd done. "The Imperium would be in a bad place. Very bad." He tried to work more moisture into his mouth. "The conspiracy would still be hidden. The Oryndrax would still be freely attacking our outposts and colonies. Also, I'd be dead." He took a shaky breath. "We came, truly, to petition you to make her a full citizen of the Imperium."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The Emperor gave him a steady gaze.

  "The mighty Grimthorn Stonefist, hero of Arcturus, breaker of conspiracies and the very ideal of the Imperium could ask for anything across the galaxy. Yet he asks citizenship for his Assistant. Why?"

  Grimthorn swallowed heavily. He'd known this question was coming; he'd debated mightily within himself how to answer it. How to spin it. In the end, though, he'd decided there was only one path. Only one thing he could say.

  "I love Kinnit with everything in me. My sincerest wish is to marry her."

  The Emperor sat back in his throne. He was quiet for a long time.

  "You know the law, I take it?" the Emperor said finally. "The laws I personally established?"

  "I do, your Imperial Majesty."

  "So you've been carrying on an illegal relationship, and now you come here, hoping to get some legal coverage for your behavior."

  "That is not how I would put it, your Imperial Majesty."

  "By all means, how would you put it?"

  "Your Imperial Majesty, I will marry Kinnit, whatever you say. I only hope to be able to do so as a loyal citizen of the Imperium."

  The Emperor frowned.

  "Bold of you to come into my throne room and throw your planned crimes right in my face."

  Grimthorn's face went ashen. He bowed his head.

  "It was not my intent to offend, your Imperial Majesty," he said. "Only know that my love for Kinnit is strong and true, and our request is founded on a desire to be with each other, not to avoid the consequences of the law."

  "Hm. And you, young Kobold. What have you to say about all this? What would you do if I freed you? What would you do with citizenship?"

  Kinnit saluted sharply.

  "I would marry Grimthorn Stonefist. Beyond that, I would do the same as I have done as a Subject Species, your Imperial Majesty. Serve the Imperium to the best of my ability, grow her power and show her glory to the galaxy. I would also continue to work for my people, the Kobolds of Takkar, to bring them all to citizenship and give them access to the stars."

  The Emperor leaned over the arm of his throne to speak with the Cryptographer. Grimthorn supposed it must have been outside the acoustic zone that brought the Emperor's words down to the supplicant's station, because he couldn't hear a thing.

  The Emperor finished speaking with the Cryptographer and stared at Kinnit. The Cryptographer came forward, sweeping down the stairs. The distance was great, but the Cryptographer's long legs brought him swiftly forward.

  The oppressive feel of the Cryptographer grew in Grimthorn with each step it took. Grimthorn's thoughts grew dark, destructive. He clenched his jaw and forced his face to stillness as his soul roiled within him.

  The he glanced at Kinnit and it all nearly came undone.

  Kinnit, so joyful, so strong, always tall and straight, was shivering, cowering. Tears rolled down her face, and a low keening wail was building in her throat.

  Grimthorn grimaced. Of course. She hadn't spent any time around the Cryptographers. She'd probably even been under sedation when her collar was put on. She'd never had a chance to learn to deal with their unique psychic oppression. Now she was getting the full, unfiltered, unfettered blast of its presence against her sensitive psyche, and she was crumbling. She sank to her haunches and put her hands over her head.

  Grimthorn laid a steadying hand on her back.

  "Shh, it will be fine," he said. "Whatever happens, it will be fine. I'm right here."

  The Cryptographer stood before her, tall and imposing. Its face tentacles writhed and flopped as it gazed at her wordlessly. Light gleamed off the dark lenses of its goggles.

  It reached out one taloned claw to the quivering Kobold. She cried out in terror.

  Before Grimthorn could think, he'd thrust his body between them.

  "What do you think you're doing?" Grimthorn growled.

  "Stand down, Admiral," the Emperor said. "The Cryptographer is executing the judgment of the Emperor."

  Admiral Stonefist glared into the blank goggles of the Cryptographer. With slow deliberation, he moved aside. His hands unconsciously curled into fists.

  The Cryptographer leaned down. Its talons laid on Kinnit's throat. Grimthorn clung to his fury with every last shred of willpower he possessed, to keep from striking down the Cryptographer.

  The talons moved on her neck, a tiny, delicate dance, almost faster than sight. Then the Cryptographer stepped back.

  Kinnit gasped.

  Her collar glowed, blinked twice, then went dark. Now, instead of a golden color, it was a dull yellow.

  "What did you..." Grimthorn started, his fists unclenching.

  A seam opened at the back of the collar. It separated, and with agonizing slowness it peeled apart, falling away from her skin. In less than a minute, the collar had separated from her neck and fallen to the floor.

  "You are no longer Subject Species Kinnit," said the Emperor, "but citizen Kinnit. You have proven your value to the Imperium, above many others."

  Kinnit's hands flew to her throat, feeling the ridges on her neck where the collar had been sealed to her for so long. She looked up at the Cryptographer in disbelief.

  "The... skin... will... heal... in... a... few... days," the Cryptographer croaked.

  She trembled, looking up at the chthonic giant.

  "Does everyone feel this way around you?" she asked.

  The Cryptographer gave her a long, unreadable look.

  "Yes," it said finally.

  She quivered as she stared directly at the Cryptographer's goggles.

  "You can't be around anyone. Nobody can talk to you. You must be lonely."

  The Cryptographer's head tilted slightly.

  "I... am... many. I... am... never... alone."

  With fresh tears collecting in the corners of her eyes, she stepped forward.

  "Thank you," she said. Then she put her arms around the Cryptographer in a gentle hug.

  Everyone in the throne room froze. The height difference between them meant that she barely came up to the Cryptographer's torso. After a brief moment, she stepped away.

  Silence reigned.

  "This... is... a... strange... one," the Cryptographer said, finally. "An... inexplicable... puzzle."

  The Cryptographer stepped back, and returned to the Emperor's side, the oppression of its presence fading. Grimthorn wasn't sure, but it seemed to him that the Cryptographer retreated faster than it had come down.

  The Emperor cleared his throat.

  "Well. Well." He harrumphed and glanced at Grimthorn. "Now. Kinnit Longlegs. Citizen Kinnit."

  Now free from the psychic scrambling of the Cryptographer, Kinnit was able to fully appreciate what had happened. She looked at the dull, discarded collar on the ground, and a tiny squee of excitement escaped her. She bowed deeply.

  "Thank you, your Imperial Majesty! Thank you so much!" She turned to Grimthorn, fairly vibrating. "I'm a citizen!" she whispered to him. He smiled warmly at her. Then the Emperor continued speaking.

  "You are a full citizen of the Imperium. What now will you do? You may marry Admiral Stonefist, or..." the Emperor leaned forward in his throne. "Or do anything that you desire. I hereby grant you an Imperial boon. Ask of me what you will. Your hope of citizenship and an Imperial career is no longer tied to Admiral Stonefist. If you wish I can put you in any job, any place in the galaxy. You may follow any path you like. If you wish it, you can be free of the Admiral, even of the Navy."

  Grimthorn felt suddenly sick to his stomach.

  Kinnit stood up straight and looked the Emperor directly in the eye.

  "Begging your Imperial Majesty's pardon, and I mean no disrespect, but you do not have the authority to free me. You can add my name to the rolls of the citizens or cast me out of the galaxy, put me in the highest position or in the darkest prison of the Imperium, but my heart remains bound, now and forever, to Grimthorn Stonefist. No power of yours can change that."

  The Emperor laughed in delight, loud and long.

  "Well, boldness is the order of the day. So be it. Nevertheless, my word stands. I have granted one hero of the Imperium his boon, now I will grant another hers. What would Kinnit Longlegs ask of her Emperor?"

  "Your Imperial Majesty, I do have one thing to ask," she said slowly. "I have a friend who is dying. We know of no medicine or technology that can save him. I would ask... if you have some way... your Imperial Majesty has lived long, and if you had some way to save him..."

  "I have no medical technology that is hidden from the rest of the Imperium," said the Emperor sadly. "My longevity is not due to any technology. But tell me more about your friend, let us see if there is anything we can do."

  "Your Imperial Majesty, he is a loyal servant of the Imperium. He was poisoned while fighting the conspiracy in Techterra. His name is Dass Gunstar. He's a Mucilagean."

  The Emperor's response was galvanic. His eyes widened, he gripped the arms of his throne, and leaned forward.

  "Go on."

  Kinnit's lower lip trembled. She glanced at Grimthorn, who was too stunned by the turn of events to interject.

  "He... he's been infused with hydroflux," she said. "It's killing him." She cleared her throat. "I would have you save him, if you could. That is what I ask of the Emperor of the Imperium."

  The Emperor gave the Cryptographer at his side a long, meaningful look. Slowly he turned back to Kinnit.

  "I can promise nothing about the outcome," the Emperor said, "but if he will come to me willingly, I will do everything in my power to save him."

  Kinnit let out a sigh of relief.

  "Thank you again, your Imperial Majesty. Your graciousness is boundless."

  The Emperor gave her a hooded look.

  "Is it?" he said, half to himself. "The line between blessing and curse is often thinner than anyone realizes."