Freedom's Battle: Ankha's Journey

I looked out the window of my spaceship. I had no idea where I was. I was lost and alone in the vastness of space. My ship had been damaged, leaving me only with half its energy. I would use up that energy within a week of travel at this speed. I could already feel the coldness of space creeping into my bones. The coldness of death.

I looked out the window once more. I saw a planet in the distance. A blue planet. Marked on the map as 'Earth'. I began to power up my engines. I was desperate for shelter. I was desperate for warmth. I was desperate to survive. I sped towards the planet.

As I got closer, I could see a large city below me. I decided to land near the city. As I landed, I was startled by the sight of a tall, dark figure standing near my ship. He was wearing a mask, but I could see his eyes through the holes in the mask. His eyes were full of anger.

"Who are you?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

I stepped out of the ship and faced him. "I am Ankha," I said. "And I'm lost. My ship has been damaged and I need help."

The man was startled. "Ankha?" he repeated. "Ankha, from the 21st century?"

"Yes," I replied. "I'm from the 21st century."

He smiled. "It's good to see you again," he said. "I've heard so much about you from my master. I can't believe you're finally here."

"Your master?" I repeated. "What do you mean? Who is your master?"

"The Emperor," he said. "My master is the Emperor."

I gasped. "That's impossible," I said. "The Emperor is dead."

"No," he replied. "He's very much alive. I am his henchman, Marco. I have been waiting for you, Ankha. You will be my master's new bride."

My heart sank. I remembered the Emperor well. He was a tyrant. An evil dictator. He had ruled this world for hundreds of years. He was vicious, powerful and ruthless. By the time I had left this world, the only people still alive were those who had sworn their allegiance to him. Everyone else had been killed.

"Where is your master's palace?" I asked. "I need to find him."

"You won't find him," said Marco. "He doesn't like it when strangers trespass in his palace. If he sees you, he'll kill you."

"Then I must find him," I replied. "I have to kill him before he kills me."

"He won't kill you," said Marco. "He has plans for you."

"What plans?" I asked.

"He wants to make you his wife," said Marco. "He has tried to find you for many years. It was a great surprise when you arrived here today. A great surprise and a great honor."

"There will be no honor for him when I kill him," I replied.

"You won't kill him," said Marco. "You'll marry him."

"I will not marry him," I said. "I will kill him."

Marco laughed. "You won't kill him," he said. "And you'll marry him. You'll be his queen and rule the planet with him. He's a lonely old man. He needs someone to take care of him."

"He was a lonely old man when he was alive," I said. "And he didn't need anyone to take care of him. Not even his own son, who he murdered in cold blood. The Emperor was a monster."

"He was a great emperor," said Marco. "If it wasn't for him, this planet would have been destroyed long ago."

"I don't believe you," I replied. "I think you're just trying to trick me."

"You'll believe me soon enough," said Marco. "Come. Let me take you to my master's palace."

I hesitated. "Why did he call you his henchman?" I asked. "Why not his son? Why not his heir?"

"I am his henchman," said Marco. "I was made his henchman. I was born that way."

"I don't understand," I said.

Marco sighed. "You'll understand soon enough," he replied. "Come. It's too late for you to turn back now. You're here now. You've been found. You're here and there's no going back."

I looked at him and then back at my ship. I had no choice. I was here now. If I wanted to live, I had to go forward. I followed Marco.

We walked for a long time. Finally, we came to a tall iron gate. Marco pushed the gate open and we entered. We walked for another long time. Marco didn't say anything to me. He didn't look back at me. He was focused on the path ahead.

Finally, we came to the end of the path. We reached the entrance of a magnificent palace. The palace was huge. It was more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. It was made of gold and diamonds. Its walls were locked in ice.

"This is my master's palace," said Marco. "This is where he lives."

"Doesn't he want to move somewhere warmer?" I asked. "Doesn't he want to live somewhere a little more modern?"

"He likes it here," said Marco. "He likes it the way it is."

"I don't think he's a very nice person," I said.

"You might change your mind when you meet him," said Marco.

"It's not possible for me to change my mind about him," I replied.

"You don't have to like him," said Marco. "But you will obey him. He is your master. You will do whatever he tells you to do."

"I will not obey him," I said. "I will not be his slave."

Marco didn't reply. He turned around and began walking back. I followed him.

We reached the gates. Marco opened them and we returned to the palace. We walked through the hallway and entered a room. There was a bed in the center of the room. The bed was covered with a black sheet. I saw the head of a man. He was staring at me.

"Stand here," said Marco. "I need to go and wash your clothes."

I stood there and waited. Soon, the man in the bed pulled off the sheet. I gasped. He was even uglier than I had imagined. He was covered in scars. He was wrinkly and covered in hair. He had yellow teeth and red eyes. His body smelt terrible. I almost threw up.

"Welcome, Ankha," said the Emperor. "I have waited for you for many years."

"I have come to kill you," I replied. "Before you kill me."

"I expected that from you," said the Emperor. "I expected you to want to kill me. That's why I sent my henchman to bring you to me."

"I'm here now," I said. "You can't escape me."

"I don't intend to escape," said the Emperor. "I intend to make you my wife. That's why I sent my henchman to bring you to me. That's why I've waited for so many years."