“YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PICK A NEW LEADER!”
Rethais fell backwards, collapsing in a heap of of wood, fake leather and bits of chair behind his desk. Everything had been utterly silent and almost peaceful, up until the moment the massive, purple serpentine being had forced her way into Rethais’s small office.
“We, uh, have been busy.”
“I gave you one fucking task, and you didn’t do it!”
“Uh, sorry…”
Yisini was about to start shouting some more, but paused, staring at Rethais.
“Did you just… apologise?”
Rethais nodded, picking himself up from the heap on the ground. “I did. I am sorry for not completing the task you gave us. Between our broken leadership, recovering from mental manipulation and this influenza that has been going around lately, it has been difficult to shift the masses and get anything done, let alone arrange an election.”
The Allbirther rubbed her face, then summoned a stool, sitting herself down on the opposite side of Rethais’s desk. “Gonna be honest with you, I’m pretty disappointed. I thought you Rethavok were supposed to be… like, good and organized and stuff.”
“Well, we were…”
“Yeah, I noticed. Had no idea just how much Kenon fucked you all up. And to think that he came to me, asking me to make him a more obedient race…” Yisini sighed some more, then snapped her fingers. Two pieces of paper appeared in her hands. One of them, Rethais recognized. It was the Emergency Powers Treaty, a document that could sign over the entirety of Rethan leadership onto one person in times of dire need. It was one of the many reasons why the former High General Photeianos had managed to remain in power for so long.
Seeing it immediately made Rethais feel uneasy. After all, he and Photeianos… had not… parted on the best of terms. The former High General had challenged Rethais for leadership by combat and unfortunately lost. It had all led up to…
“You okay there?”
Rethais shook his head, dragging himself back to reality. “No. Bad thoughts. That is all the Emergency Powers Treaty brings.”
The Allbirther grunted. “Well that’s one of my two options out of the window.”
“Dare I ask what the other is?”
“Going back to a Monarchy via Invocation of Deitic Intervention. Photeianos ended up in power because of it. Technically, so did you. I had a quick read of your laws and constitutions and all that on the way here. Nothing saying that you can’t have a god pick a leader for you.”
“We are not-”
“You are incapable of ruling yourselves currently. You can’t even elect a leader. I get it, you’re all still in shock. But every other race is fine. Even the fucking Kronospasts have accepted Kohra has their rightful leader again. You guys are floundering and kinda… need someone to take charge. Or at least act as a basic figurehead. And I’m going to basically force your hand here, because Kinisis wants to open up for business and we need all you mortals to be oh good behaviour.”
“I… do not-”
“Let me put it this way…” Yisini interrupted, not giving Rethais a chance to answer. “I have three options for you. You are going to pick one of these options and make them your leader, and you are going to be an ambassador and link between your kind and me. Got it?”
Rethais sighed. “Alright, fine, who have you picked?”
“Your sons and your cousin.”
“I do not have a cousin.”
Yisini snapped her fingers again. A file appeared in front of Rethais. “Yes you do. General Reniir Kalembon of the 666th Legion. Your uncle, Resipharis Rethianos, who was supposed to remain childless, had a one-off fling with Sera Kalembon, who later secretly gave birth to Reniir. Sera took that secret to her grave, but, well, I’m a god and your stupid Rethianos scent is easy to track.”
Rethais flicked through the folder, looking somewhat surprised. That surprise though slowly changed. Rethais actually knew Reniir personally. He was a very good General, had been in his post for a long time. Hard-working, painfully loyal and an all-round honest and just being. There were only two problems though. The first was that Reniir had a… rather demonic look. A rare genetic trait that gave him horns and what could have been a pair of wings. Great guy, but rather scary to look at.
The other problem was…
“I do not want this devolving into nepotism.”
“Bit fucking late for that, dear!” Yisini hissed. “You and Elkay were in charge for ages. Photeianos had his own lines of genetic cronies. Even past Generals hired their families to help them rule.”
Rethais tutted. “I guess… And Reniir is a genuinely good being…”
“Can you arrange this? Or do I need to step in further?” Yisini asked, handing Rethais the folder and the sheets of paper.
“I will… discuss this with the Circle…”
“And?”
“And we will go from there…”
This seemed to satisfy Yisini. “Very well. I’ll give you… 48 hours to get everyone on board. Then we can go ahead and get everything else sorted!”
Before Rethais could say or ask anything else, the Allbirther disappeared, leaving nothing but a sweet, sickly, perfumed scent, and some shimmering scales.