Like a ghost in white robes, with a staff in his hand, he appeared before me.
"Bow before the Ori, or face their wrath," his voice rumbled.
"No," I snapped.
"Then die in fire," his words sounded like a sentence, and I felt the flames consuming my body.
— AAAAA!!!!
— SA'REH!!!!
I opened my eyes, feeling Isara shaking. I was in my bed, in my room. Night.
"I'm sorry," I breathed out.
"What did you dream about? Do Goa'uld even dream?" Her voice mingled with concern and curiosity.
"I was burned because I refused to kneel before the gods," I replied, not mentioning that this was only a shadow of the coming galactic threat.
— Was it Ra?
"No, I don't know. The Goa'uld don't burn their enemies. They do a lot of things, but not that." I met her worried gaze. "Everything's fine, just a bad dream. Maybe we shouldn't go out today? Stay in bed? The Empire won't fall apart from one day of rest."
- Actually, we have a lot to do.
"Maybe we should create a prime minister position?" I suggested, desperately wanting to stay in my cozy apartment, covered with a blanket, like I had as a child.
- I don't recognize you, Sa'rekh.
"So you'll learn something new about me," I said, still shaking. The memories of the dream were too vivid. I'll craft the Merlin Device, burn the Ori to the ground, and impale every single one of their damned Priors. I'll even douse the High Prior in napalm and set him on fire myself. What did he say at the end? 'Forgive me, for I was blind'? A perfect excuse for billions of potential corpses. And this is in some half-baked version of the universe! The Jaffa embraced democracy? Why should they? They're warriors. They'd simply terrorize planets without the Goa'uld. The Priors, with their overwhelming fleet power, would impose their will. No free Jaffa, no free Priors.
— What happened?
"This dream reminded me that the Galaxy is dark and full of horrors I can't even imagine. The Goa'uld may be just another entry in the list of enemies I must destroy to protect my home."
"So, I'm supposed to live with the knowledge that there are hundreds of Goa'uld out there in space with the power to exterminate me, and still remain sane, go to work every day, while you're falling apart because you're asleep?"
I thought for a moment. Isara worked harder, more efficiently. I'd come in, crack skulls, invent weapons. The pressure on her must be much greater.
"There is logic in that," I finally said and, to her relief, got out of bed.
- It's nice to kick you sometimes.
"I know, I know. In a hundred years, you'll remember what a bad person I was when my Jaffa dragged you to the palace."
"Exactly," she handed me the tablet with the message. "This came while you were sleeping."
I looked at the screen and groaned.
- What is this?
"A signal from a surveillance system on a planet I, as a 'mercenary lord,' had flagged as a place I could be hired. It looks like after a few years, someone has finally decided to use my services. I need to at least find out who and what they need. A perfect excuse to take the Jaffa for a walk."
— Good luck in your mercenary business. And don't forget De Wiart.
"I'm sure he's already aware and prepared. He probably has a well-developed fifth sense."
— Maybe we should make him the face of the "mercenary lord" since he likes it so much?
- That's a great idea! It's no wonder my wife is so smart.
"Yes, that's exactly why you pay less and less attention to administrative management," there was irritation in her voice.
"I do. The most important thing is to have available operating capital. So I'll go and earn a little."
"You have a report on the number of disabled people on Urvashi and information on the number of prosthetics needed on your desk." "I remembered this from the time I treated Adrian. More precisely, the Tollans and Harlan did. With this technology, we began jointly producing prosthetics, opening up a huge market—two developed planets with a combined population of two hundred million. Nanite-based healing and prosthetic technology have become high-tech commodities, enabling active trade. Naturally, I also provided prosthetics for my citizens. Since we don't yet have the necessary infrastructure to configure them, Tollana has taken on the task of establishing specialized clinics.
- I will sign everything.
"You know, Sa'reh, we're not doing too badly. We get up relying on self-discipline. But imagine what it's like for the British monarchs or the US president."
"British monarchs are a mockery of monarchy. They're simply playing a role in a history that's rapidly declining. The fact that we won't be under some circus tent means we have real power, backed by an army and navy."
"And a high approval rating," his wife reminded him.
"And a high rating," I agreed. Why didn't I mention it when comparing it to the army and navy?
"You also have a lecture at one of the universities. Don't forget. The students have been preparing." "Oh, right. I can't deprive students of their rightful teacher. In fact, I need this to keep from going mad with power. That's why I give public lectures on physics."
"It's amazing how the students prepared for it. I should have been the one preparing."
- Sa'rekh, get out of bed already!
"But maybe we should stay for at least an hour or two?" I made a not-so-subtle hint.
— I need to work. For the sake of your fleet.
— Damn navy. It's depriving me of everything.