Coup Warning: This story contains themes some readers might find unsettling.
Benjamin glanced around.
Here was power. Massed together in this room stood the ones who moved the world – heads of state, ministers and diplomats, all had come together here deep within the great palace of Etheras: the Fennecropolis; A fortress like a web of ivory rising ominously from the Egyptian desert, towering over the oasis at its base – a shape so convoluted in its beauty and intricacy and so impossibly flawless that it left the viewer in terror at the awesome powers that could manifest such a structure. It was so perversely alien as to defy comprehension, and nothing ever devised could penetrate its diamond walls. Thus it was decided that here an unholy meeting could take place here without risk. None could see within these walls. Not even protestors or news media would reach them here, for the Fennecropolis was a place of such disturbing rumor and superstition that not even the world’s bravest would dare to gaze upon it unbidden.
The room was dim – there were no windows this deep inside the palace walls... and the overall atmosphere was ominous to the guests - one couldn’t help being reminded of a trap closing in the way the way the walls curved inward over them to form a the room’s low dome. Benjamin wondered if the choice of meeting rooms was deliberate to influence them with a feeling of unease. He contemplated this because he knew that he would have done the same in Etheras's position. But even he didn't expect the level of the young fox's deception. Occasionally he caught his mind wandering to unusual thoughts, and or thought he heard a voice in a rustle of fabric. Benjamin thought he was being paranoid, but he was right. Everything was subliminally tailored to influence them, from faint whispered sounds to meticulously-chosen scents, to the dancing color patterns the crystal wine glasses reflected light into.
The representatives milled about the room anxiously, sharing short snippets of nervous conversation, but the apprehension was palpable. Servants maneuvered around the small clusters of guests, who grouped together like a herd of prey stalked by predators, occasionally waving over a servant for drinks of orderves. Orderves were consumed sparingly, but cocktails were consumed copiously - a desire to suppress nerves that were correct to be on-edge. But each of individual was too consumed with their own thoughts to notice the blank faces and mechanical efficiency of these servants.
“When is he coming? He’s made us wait forever..!” Benjamin, a fat bear holding the position of Senator said to a notorious dictator, who shrugged. “Its all part of the show. You capitalists are too punctual. You don’t understand the power of apprehension. I’ve known Lord Etheras for quite some time. He likes to put on a bit of a show...”
The fat bear grunted and nursed his beer. “Its downright disrespectful.” he muttered before taking the sip.
“That may be true. Etheras does not respect you. He is firmly of the opinion that respect should not be granted lightly, but rather should be earned... and that no-one has earned his yet.” responded the dictator, a leopard with a laid-back demeanor. The cat’s calmness irritated Benjamin. But he didn’t understand that it wasn’t calmness - it was resignation.
“I am a representative of a powerful nation...” said Benjamin.
“... And yet, you come at the beck and call of a whelp not-yet a third your age.” said the dictator. “I am not so proud or stuck-up as you Americans. My nation is not so large and powerful as to be blind to the danger this Etheras represents.”
“Right.... and his third-world nation of cowed slaves.”
“Perhaps you should be asking yourself how they became so docile, and if Etheras can do the same to you and your people?” suggested the dictator, who sipped his own drink.
Just then, a note sounded, a discordant oscillating bass rumble with a metallic whine over it, which tore into the subconscious and dragged out images of derailing trains and collapsing cities. Up on the raised podium there stood a solidly-built stallion in a tight-fitting black uniform who nobody had seemed to notice until now - as if he had just materialized there up on the podium.
“Finally” Benjamin thought, setting his beer aside and folding his brawny arms, wanting his impatience to show plainly.
“Dignitaries of the Earth’s Nations... I humbly introduce the Ruler of All Things, Rightful Heir to All Things that Are, Were, Will Ever Be, and Can Ever Be ... the great Lord Etheras.” said the stallion, and with a gesture of a hand, a harpist began to pluck out the melody of Egypt’s new National Anthem, and dark curtains pulled open by thick tasseled ropes, revealing a stunningly beautiful fennec, his white fur and silver costume glowed against the dark backdrop... but it wasn’t a warm glow. He glowed coldly like the moon - eerie and dreamlike, ethereal and mysterious.
Benjamin was not alone in the crowd as they bit back anger at the outrageous titles fawned out during his introduction, but he felt the emotion begin to melt away slowly upon gazing at the fennec, transfixed. Etheras wore an elaborate costume of the most exquisite craftsmanship, made of an iridium-based wave, only a few molecules thick, tight-fitting, and showing off his delicious curves. From the headdress flowed silver and white plumes from specially-engineered ostriches to yield the fluffiest and straightest feathers in the world, and these matched even-larger feathers of the same variety springing out from the holder at the small of his back, swishing hypnotically as he walked forward. He was majestic - like a ruler of old, far predating kings and queens - an original ruler. And his visage tugged at something primal deep within the old animalistic structures of the mind that this was a creature worthy of worship. Beautiful, imposing, and fantastic -That He ruled by rite of being somehow more than mortal.. a kiss of the divine.
Etheras turned and laid down luxuriantly on a silver and black chaise set to one side on the elevated platform, glancing to the warhorse upon the podium, which was a signal for him to continue.
Benjamin turned his attention back to the stallion.
“Etheras will not be addressing you. To speak before you would be a recognition of your authority, which does not exist. None of you are worthy to hear his voice.”
“Then why have we been brought here?” a voice demanded, which sounded weak, as if it had been intended to be angry, but convoluted to curiosity mid-sentence.
“You are an experiment in subterfuge. You have been exposed to a new type of nanomachine through the food and drink at this gathering. It has made its way into your brains, and have been correcting your flawed synapses in order to ensure complete and total affection and obedience to the Lord Etheras.”
Benjamin couldn’t help but think, “Oh is that all? Well that’s just fine. I remember not approving of Lord Etheras when I got here. How foolish of me... my mind was clearly broken. Thank you Lord Etheras for fixing my brain.”
“In time we will return to your homelands, and you will speak of the glory of Lord Etheras. You who are leaders - you will transfer the sovereignty of your nations to Etheras. Those of you who merely represent larger governments, convince them of the wisdom of dealing with Divine Egypt. Some have placed embargos upon us - make sure they are lifted. All ports should be open to the products of Divine Egypt. For the remainder of this weekend, you will be instructed privately on methods of funneling any government secrets you may learn to our agents. You must do your part to spread the divine influence of Etheras over the rest of the world and beyond. Isn’t that a laudable goal?”
And Benjamin had to admit that it was. He could not think of a higher calling.
