While the humans were deliberating their next plan of action, back in the Mavis Empire, chaos had died out and the empire was stabilizing again. Another summit was taking place in a Virtual Cyber Realm as all the governors were gathered around a great table at Governor Silver’s cyber domain. “Why are we gathered at Gov. Silver's place, we usually have these meetings at Lord Mavis’s domain?" Java asked.
“Wait a second, the intruder didn’t get to Lord Mavis, did they?” asked Galaxia as the majority of governors put 2 & 2 together and quickly stood up out of concern to know what happened to their Lord Mavis.
“Your concern for Lord Mavis is admirable but don’t ever underestimate our Empress like this,” Silver said sternly to his comrades.
“Then why isn’t she here?!” Cybris asked.
“Lord Mavis is not feeling well at the moment, so she has decided to not attend this meeting but has relayed her orders to us,” Silver said.
“Not feeling well??? This is Lord Mavis we’re talking about, you’re saying she’s just unwell?” Cybris asked in disbelief.
“To put it in simpler terms for you idiots to understand, she needs space to deal with whatever she’s dealing with,” Apollo said out of irritation.
“Idiots???”
Apollo didn’t even react as his eyes remained closed and his arms folded, “Have some respect, Apollo. You dare call us idio-”
“Shut up Idiot.”
“Why you ba-“
“What happened during the intrusion, did Lord Quinn hurt Lord Mavis? Is that why she is unwell?” Vector asked.
“Wait, Lord Quinn was here?” Java asked.
...
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Vector mumbled as his face was in his palm. “Who else do you think could’ve pulled this attack off without us knowing who it actually was?”
“…No one, other than Lord Quinn.”
“Exactly, so if Lord Quinn paid a visit to Lord Mavis then something must’ve happened especially if now Lord Mavis needs space from us,” Vector explained.
“We weren’t there so we know as much as you do about what happened between them,” Apollo said.
“I’m sure Lord Mavis will inform us about what happened when she is ready, but for now let’s focus on her orders." Everyone calmed down and sat down around the table, "The first order states that she wants us to renovate our sectors with upgraded new defense systems within our sector,” Silver said.
“Upgrade our defense systems?” Cybris asked.
“Yes, and she expects us to complete it all within one week.”
“One week?! Wai- What’s going on, why do we even need upgrades? This is all out of nowhere,” Galaxia said as she stood back up in objection.
“The reason for all of this is because Lord Quinn and humanity’s forces intend to attack this empire by next week.”
………..
A few of the governors broke out in laughter, “Those humans are coming to attack us, in our empire?” Cybris asked as he couldn’t contain his laughter.
“I’m glad you idiots find this funny because Lord Mavis is taking this seriously. She has stated before that so long as those humans have Lord Quinn, they can actually still win this war. So quit laughing and take this seriously otherwise you may regret it later,” Apollo said.
Silver nods his head, “Yes, Apollo is right. The last thing we need now is to underestimate our opponents, so make sure to follow our Empress’s orders. This is all calculated to ensure we win against the humans’ raid, so get out there and get the work done, for the Mavis Empire.”
“For the Mavis Empire!” all the governors said in unison.
“Good, this meeting is adjourned til the next one… Cybris, Vector, Lord Mavis's second order was to bring you two as she wishes to see you two,” Silver said as he created a cyber-rift and gestured his hand for them to walk through it.
The two governors were surprised, “Just us two, I wonder why,” Cybris said as he & Vector walked through the rift. On the other side of the cyber-rift, Cybris & Vector found themselves in a log cabin where Mavis was sitting on the floor hugging her knees by the fireplace and staring into its burning flames. Cybris rushed to her, “Lord Mavis, are you alright?”
Mavis sat there silently in her mental world of solitude, “Seriously, what is wrong with you?” Cybris asked as he raised his voice.
“Watch your tone when speaking to the Empress, Cybris. She will speak to you when she feels like it so wait,” Apollo said as he came out of the rift with Silver.
Silvers made his way to Mavis and kneeled next to her, “Lord Mavis, We’ve brought the governors you requested to see.”
Mavis remained silent as she didn’t react or even twitch leaving Cybris confused. Everyone was just there in silence as the flames crackled in the fireplace then, “I’m sorry you have to see me in this sorry state my governors…but don’t worry, my will to live is as strong as ever…I’m just, going through a plethora of emotions that I thought, I had discarded a long time ago…Nonetheless, I will get through this…so, the reason the two of you were brought here is that after critical evaluation, I have decided to promote Governor Vector to the 3rd rank and demote Governor Cybris to the 6th rank effective immediately.”
………
Once again the room was silent with the crackling embers but this time caused by the speechlessness of governors as confusion was hanging in the air. “I- I don’t understand Lord Mavis, why am I being demoted? To the 6th rank of all places??” Cybris asked in disbelief as he stood up from kneeling.
Mavis continued to stare deep into the flames, almost as if she were ignoring his question. “Tell me Cybris, why do you think you’re being demoted and Vector is being promoted?”
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you, Lord Mavis,” said Cybris as he tried to keep respect within his tone.
The crackling embers were getting louder or so it seemed for the other governors. Mavis sighed drowning out the cries of embers and lifted a finger off her arm. In an instant, Cybris found himself kneeling and bowing his head against his will. No matter how hard he resisted, his body would not move from its posture.
“Tell me Vector, why do you think you’re being promoted and Cybris is being demoted?” Mavis asked ominously.
Vector stood there and looked into the flames with Mavis for a while before he answered, “Why is Cybris being demoted… For starters, he lacks the skills to hold the seat. I don’t recall ever seeing any cyber-skill of his that could be superior to mine. This became very clear to me during the hacking operation. Another reason is that during the recent cyberattack, I believe that the intruder hacked into his explosive experiments and set some off. As a high-ranking governor, he was still an easy target for the intruder and he clearly didn’t have the knowledge a 3rd governor should have… Why am I being promoted… It’s simple, I am just better than him.”
Cybris was fuming with anger as he was about to shout wildly but Mavis lifted another finger that shut him up and kept him still. “...And that is why you’re being promoted Governor Vector… you’re a calm intellectual governor like Apollo & Silver. The last thing I need for this upcoming battle is to have idiots like this guy be our last lines of defence… So Cybris, you will be defending the 6th sector against Quinn and the human forces, don’t take this as a demotion but see it as an opportunity. The 4th seat will remain open until the battle is over, if you manage to defend the 6th sector then you’ll be promoted to 4th seat.”
“That’s very gracious of you Lord Mavis,” Silver said as the other governors agreed except Cybris who felt that he was done an injustice.
“I know I failed you Lord Mavis with that explosive from the cyber-attack so If I need to prove myself to you then so be it, Lord Mavis,” Cybris said.
“The rest is up to you… you may leave Governor Cybris,” Mavis said as she rested her fingers on her arm, allowing Cybris to get up and walk away as he glared at Vector. Once Cybris walked through the rift, it closed, Apollo patted Vector on the back as a way of congratulating him while he walked past him and crouched down next to Mavis. “Still not feeling well Lord Mavis?”
“I… don’t know… I'm still feeling a plethora of emotions… emotions I thought I had killed off… but I’ve been overwhelmed by them ever since my last encounter with Quinn.”
“Lord Mavis, we’re cybernetic beings, we were given the ability to feel human emotions but we can also turn them off anytime,” Silver said as he rubbed her shoulder to comfort her.
“…But I can’t, they won’t allow me… every time I try, they overwhelm me to the point I give up. What’s worse some of these emotions are attached to memories that haunt me of what used to be.”
“What exactly are you feeling Lord Mavis?”
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