The Making of the Dark Regent

[Jhett Justyce]

Jhett stood overlooking the massive city that was Akalan. It's glittering, gleaming glory was more than just his homeworld--One day it would be his domain. Today he was just a Prince but one day very soon he would be the King.

A knock came at the door. The near human turned, smoothing his expensive suit out before declaring, "Come in."

A shapely Hapan female came in. She was one of the many servants who had immigrated to their planet. Her comely form had made her an ideal candidate to serve the Justyce house as a servant and handler of the guests. Appearances were everything when it came to making impressions. "Mister Jhett, your guest is here to see you."

"Very good, Hanell, send him in the back."

"Yes, sir."

The noble had more and more begun to taken in guests. While it wasn't unusual for a noble to take guests in privacy--or through the back way, Jhett was not taking chances he had plans in place beginning that would elevate him above his current station to the one he deserved.

The bookshelf to his left slid open with low, quiet grumble and the cyborg walked through the opening.

 

[Jhett Justyce]

"I came alone," the man said in his half synthesized voice.

"Wonderful," Jhett said with a pleased smile. He discretely tapped his elegant watch. The scanners implanted bellow it's face gave a scan over the Thetan for bugs and recording devices.

Thetans were notorious for their sabatauge and subtrefuge. Their culture was based on cutting each other down and spying, Jhett wasn't about to trust this being in that light. But they were some of the greatest ship builders in the galaxy and the Prince was not about to pass up the skills of a man who worships technology.

"Would you like something to drink?" Jhett asked, waving towards his bottle of champaign when his scanner gave him the all clear. "I must thank you for your discreet nature with this request. I'm keen on not having anyone knowing otherwise of this endeavour."

"No thank you," the cyborg answered with a wave of his hand. "I am afraid my liver has yet to be upgraded to that capacity. And for the price your offering, of course I can do so."

 

[Jhett Justyce]

The galaxy does offer small favors then, Jhett thought to himself, storing that info for his own use later on. He poured himself a glass of the golden, bubbling liquid. The contents alone in the slim glass was enough to feed a small town, but he was entitled to his own comforts and self pleasure since he was a noble.

"I hope your time on my illustrious world has been satisfactory," he said leading the man to a posh lounge in the quarters.

"It's been almost homely, save your inferior technology," the cyborg said with a slight hint of pride. He took a seat across from Jhett. "I receive your message, I want to confirm your desired specifications for this ship."

"Will you need a datapad for recording this?" Jhett asked, quirking a brow.

The Thetan tapped his temple, "Neuroimplants. My memory is flawless."

Jhett made another point to eradicate the species as soon as possible--or make them subserviant. "Well, that is very handy. Or course I desire state of the art quarters. Full line of luxury for myself and my guests. Royalty treatment for royalty."

The Thetan's eyes gave an almost imperceptable flash of recognition.

 

[Jhett Justyce]

"State of the art inner security is also of vital importance to me. The last thing I want or need is a foolish attempt at assasination on my person," he said with a wave of his hand. "And on that note, adaquate quarters for onboard security forces such as my guard and such. Being a noble, one is never alone. And on that, long range encrypted comms, several bandwidths if you please."

"The perils of leadership, one must always be at the ready to be at the whims of those who need them most," The Shipwright said with a slight nod. "How long do you desire this ship to be?"

"I would prefer 400 meters, is this possible?"

"Most certainly."

"Excellent. And on that note, are you able to equip it with a hangar for fighters?"

"In addition to the shuttles you requested in your message? Yes."

"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I knew I had contacted the right shipwright," Jhett swirled his glass in his hand, a feeling of sweet victory hummed through him. The dark Prince was well on his way to making the power grab he had in mind. And things were only getting better with every moment. "Will you be able to provide the stygium required for the stealth tech we need for this ship?"

"I am afraid not. If you desire it, you must provide it," The cyborg said with a solemn tone. "Stygium is too far out of my resource pool to procure easily."

"Then I shall see to it personally," Jhett promised. "Is there anything else you need from me?"

"Nothing more that I know of," The Thetan rose, "I will summon you to our ship yards at a later date to ensure this ship meets your desired specifications."

"I would expect nothing less," Jhett promised with a cordial smile. "Until then."

 

[Jhett Justyce]

The royal yacht came out of hyperspace with a lurch over Theta. Jhett had come alone. As far as his royal family and the security knew he was just out for a pleasure cruise. In their mind he was sure they thought of him out doing "Young male" acts of hedonism. While the thought was quite far from his mind he didn't mind their mentality that he was out doing such degraded acts. It hid his tracts and in their mind, it was solid.

The security on the planet was rather intensive. Their guards and garrison checked his every nook and cranny of the ship and were only satisfied when they had contacted his shipwright to confirm the appointment. The whole affair took several hours and while it was somewhat frustrating, Jhett was careful to not let the act get to him. They were xenophobic and more than a few planets could afford to take notes from their ways.

A squadron of fighters escorted the Prince to the mountain that served as a planetary shipyard. It was huge and Jhett admired the massive skill that went into its creation and upkeep. Inside it was even more impressive.

The cyborgs that walked across the massive stone floors were varried in augmentation and age. Everything in the building seemed to be mechanical to some degree or another. Biological and technological were seemlessly melded as one.

 

[Jhett Justyce]

The prince stepped off his transport and came face to face with the shipwright he had hired for the occasion. In his element, the Jhett had to be honest that he looked less alien than he had before, he looked much more natural. The prince gave a slight nod and smile, "I have to admit, you were right, your technology is far superior to my own--or any other that I have ever seen."

"We are the height of evolution," the Thetan said in his melodious tone. "For many across the galaxy have sought to differentiate between their technology and themselves, we do not. We accepted long ago that to excel, we had to become one with our creations."

"I cannot argue with that," Jhett said with a wry smile, "I would hate to waste your time, I am sure you are a very busy being. Shall you lead on to the prototype for my vessel?"

"This way," the shipwright said leading through the great expanse that served as both a reception and a hangar in one. His steps echoed off the great stone floor as the cyborg walked the quarter mile to its closest wall. The place was chissled from the mountain itself, and every second he spent in it, Jhett felt even smaller than before. Almost as if by magic, the wall opened up in a perfect rectangular door, just tall enough for both of them to fit through one by one.

When Jhett walked through it closed behind him suddenly. It was dark for a minute or two before the lights came on with a flash, blinding him for a moment.

 

[Jhett Justyce]

When the Prince had adjusted to the light a mammoth of a ship stood before him.

"You are a credit to your race," Jhett said with genuineness in his voice, "I have rarely seen an equal."

"Everything was built specifically for this ship," the shipwright explained, "From the engines to the bridge, everything was crafted to your request, made from my own personal design. The hull is made from quadranium steel on a honeycomb re-enforced underlay pattern for maximal defense and minimal weight. It still adds quite a bit to the tonnage."

"I imagine she handles slowly then," Jhett mused.

"We have yet to fly her but initial designs through computer tests indicate that she is slow to maneuver," the shipwright agreed. "But, it should be noted, with the fighters, she will hardly need to do so. These are a great deal of fighters for a ship of its size. Do note, to make room for both the hangar and the luxury quarters a few things had to be forgone."

"Oh?"

"The theater, the second ball room, three of the bars, all but two of the dining rooms, the second throne room, and half the prisoner space."

"Ah, well I suppose we can't all have everything we want. May I look within?"

"Please do."