NationStates Jolt Archive

Alexander paced aimlessly around his chair in the council chamber. Watching him, the assembled nobles and burghers all avoided each other's eyes. Eventually, Count Richard of Dar'salin spoke. "Your Highness, surely there was some reason you called us here?"

Alexander slowed, as if remembering something. Then his lip crinkled. "Oh... yes. Yes, I did." He sat down in his chair, heavily. "My wife went into labour two hours ago."

The nobles all stared at him. One of them dropped his glass, the contents spilling onto the tiled floor. "My lord?"

Alexander shook his head, and returned to pacing aimlessly.

There was a cough. The chief butler, Balthazar, spoke from his position in the doorway. "He called you here to take his mind off of this problem... perhaps one of you has a suggestion?"

The nobles all huddled together. One of them spoke. "What about a rousing duel between some armsmen?"

Alexander didn't move.

"Or perhaps a massive drunken blow-out?" A young viscount asked. "With wine? And wenching?... wait. Where are the female members of the Council?"

"Away." Alexander spoke, finality etched in every syllable.

"Well..." They all moved closer to the prince, and nodded. As one, they leapt forward and grabbed his arms, dragging him to the door. "Balthazar, we'll be at the Sign of the Red Fox, direct all calls to there." They dragged their struggling ruler through the door.

Balthazar tsked. Then he went to clean up the spilled wine.

<---------------->

"How is she?" Alysanndra asked the nurse in the hospital. Around her were gathered the other female members of the council, as well as Princess Rachel.

"Not good. There have been... complications. The doctor will tell you more." Fearing the Grand Vizier's reaction, she ducked away. "Behind you!"

The women turned and looked down the hall. She was treated to the spectacle of a very tall man hunching himself down in the hope of not being noticed. She spoke. "Doctor Hutchinson, what is this about complications?"

"Um... I don't care to discuss the details... but there's a chance we'll lose them both." As he spoke, the doctor seemed to shrink even further. "Um... so I was going to buy a ticket to Mars."

"No, Alexander would find you there." Rachel said, seriously. "And that's only if I don't kill you. What are the details?"

<---------------->

Alexander watched idly as his nobles drank the combined output of three vineyards. He hit his hand on the bar. "Another glass."

<----------------->

"I see." The women all winced. "What about a C-section?"

"We need to get the husband's permission before we do that..."

"Um, no. As Minister for Health, I order you to perform the operation immediately." An imposing women glared at the doctor. "Or I guarantee that even if you do evade the Prince or his assassins, the instant you go into a clinic or hospital anywhere in the universe, you will die from a lethal cocktail of overdoses."

"A C-section? Right away, ma'am!" The doctor ran back to the operating table.

<----------------->

Baron Otto poured his wine back over the head of the bartender. "Lad, get me some real wine! This is weak stuff!"

Alexander laughed. "Otto, my friend... it's from your own vineyards!"

The nobles all burst out in racuous laughter.

<---------------->

Doctor Hutchinson carefully lifted the infant up. He waited for a second, then smacked it gently. "Sew her back up." He motioned to Kelly. Then he turned the child over. "I have to call the Prince and inform him that he is the proud father of a... uh oh."

He turned and gave the child to a nurse. When the woman saw what she was holding, she whispered a prayer. "Go call the palace."

The doctor ran into his office and called the palace. "Look, whoever is on the other side... the child is a..."

<------------>

Balthazar swore loudly. "A girl? A GIRL? THE PRINCE IS GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK! First his wife had to undergo a C-section, now his long awaited heir is unable to take the throne?"

The voice crackled back. "Sorry, sir."

"Saints preserve us... is Kelly healthy? And the girl?"

"Yes to both questions. Kelly is happilly feeding her, and it's a nice strong child... just not what we were hoping for."

"Right. Right. And... whatever the problem with the Princess was, and I don't want details, you fixed it, right?"

"Yes. Of course."

"Right. I'll call the prince up. Take a break."

<------------>

Count Charles idly reached for the ringing phone. "Hello, Count Charles of Agua speaking, this is the Sign of the Red Fox. Who is calling... oh, hello Balthazar. Good news?... I see. I see... crap... no, wasn't planning on commiting suicide any time soon. Well, the Princess is still young. I'll tell someone, right."

He hung up, and grabbed a passing Baron. He whispered the news. The rather less intelligent Baron walked to the Prince and whispered the news.

There was a hiss of indrawn breath, and a dagger was hanging through the luckless man's arm. Alexander stood up. "Get him a bandage. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a wife and," his lip curled, "daughter to see."

The room quieted down. Not a man spoke. Each of them was running through their own private hell. Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit. What if the Princess doesn't have a son? That means a foriegner as our prince. Wait... I have a son at (x) amount of years... hmmm...



<------------->

Alexander stormed into the maternal ward, Royal Guardsmen flanking him. Behind him came several of his more ambulatory ministers, and a hastily woken Father Renolds (of the Royal Chapel).

His sister tried to speak to him as he stormed past. He ignored her, almost stepping on her as he walked into the main room. She shook her head. Count Charles slowed, and gently moved her out of the way. "Sorry, Rachel... but there's a crowd coming." He kissed her lightly on the cheek and moved onwards.

As Alexander entered the room, he looked around. "Kelly? Are you okay?"

She nodded weakly, a smile on her face. She was lit by an inner glow. "Yes, thank you Alexander. Come here."

Her husband grudgingly moved closer. "A daughter?" He asked, cold fury in his voice.

Kelly lifted the girl off of her breast and faced her towards her father. Alexander stared at the child, and felt his anger fading away to be recalled later, when he had a more fitting target. Twin blue eyes stared from a small, perfectly round face, topped with light brown hair.

Kelly moved her closer to him. "Would you like to hold her?"

Alexander paused. "No. No. Not right now. She looks happy where she is." He sat down, his attention taken up by the girl. "Any ideas for a name?"

"Um... well... maybe Lucy, or something..."

Alexander thought, and shook his head. "Maybe Melinda?" He asked, rolling the word around in his mouth for a few moments.

"I don't like it." Kelly responded.

Alexander thought for a few seconds. "I honestly can't think of a name."

Father Renolds entered carefully. He sat down. "So, what's the problem?"

"All of the names I picked out were for boys..." Alexander confessed. "The idea that I would have a daughter never occured to me. I liked Micheal or Edward..."

The priest shook his head. "Micheal would be Michelle..." the three of them looked at the child in Kelly's arms. "But that's not a Michelle. Edward... that's Edwina. God, no."

They all shook their heads vehemently.

Alysanndra peeked her head in. "My lords, Father, may I enter?"

Alexander rolled his eyes. "You, but no-one else. And only if you have a suggestion for a name."

Alysanndra thought. "I like Malissa, or Melissa. But, that's it." She turned to go.

Alexander thought. Well... she's Prime Councillor, and I like the name myself... "Malissa, eh? Kelly? Father?"

Kelly nodded. "How about Malissa Lucy Edwina Black?"

Alexander winced. "If it brings you pleasure... but I'll take a rain-check on Edwina." I will have a son. Eventually. I hope.

Father Renolds made some notes. "So, it's agreed. Malissa Lucy Black?"

Alexander and Kelly's eyes met. They nodded, reluctantly. "Yes."

"Very well. Now, the christening and baptism..."

The newly named Malissa rested her head on her mother's breast, for now unaware of the very important role she had been born into. She yawned, and went to sleep.

((OOC: Wow... just... wow...

A couple of things: Is Doctor Hutchinson a reference to what I think (s)he is? If you were still allies with us, we could've fixed all this no problem. :P Are Kelly and Alex married by now? Because, if Alex goes psycho on us (which, knowing you, he will), this'll make for some interesting RP oppertunities. :) ))

((OOC: And another thing! Would any of this be on othe news yet?))
BUMP

Meanwhile in Jeruselem ...

Courier runs into the Queen's private quarters with a letter. "Your majesty, news from Roania!" the courier panted. Queen Mariah picked up the Roanian letter with the official seal. She opened the letter carefully and read intently. She resealed the letter and put it into a golden box.

Mariah picked up the phone and rang Count Richard (now Regent of Jeruselem). "Hey darling. Good and bad news from Roania. Kelly is having her children, but complications are occuring. Another addition to our family is imminent" she giggled. The Count paused "We hope God delivers a healthy child and Kelly is OK, and this child is more sane than his father". The Queen laughed "Don't be so pessimistic".

(OOC Very interesting, I will keep my eye on this. :) )

Wombat News Report (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=115126)

OOC:Heh this is gona be good. And I do want some contoll in this because it kinda sucks having to say good bye to a RP character you made and let someone else control them. Now all we need is for one of Kellys brothers or sisters to pop in.

Meanwhile in a secret Masonic lodge ...

Two figures in black talk to each other in a dark corner. "Our informant is in place. Once the royal child is born, our infiltrators will strike and steal the royal infant." one said. The other looked puzzled "That's all nice and evil, but what are we going to do with it?".

He smiled gentlemenly "A perfect sacrifice to Ishtar and a nice video for Alexander to see the death of this heir.". The other Mason looked worried "If we mess this up, we will all be dead ...".

OOC:I just picked who to pay the vist. Heh Alexander should remeber her well after the little cave incident.
IC:
Suddenly a single Longsword-X9 flew over head and transmited a signal to Dekker. Dekker this is the Phalanix Longsword-X9 code # 9248924. Alert the officals of the arival of a member of Kell's family. Longsword-X9 out. Hey wait which member! Dekker quickly shouts back over the link befor it closed Damn it to late. He then quickly begens alerting the proper athoritys of the Maxwell ship arival

Prince Alexander rolled his eyes. "All appropriate telegrams have been sent out. There is but one thing remaining to do."

"What's that, my lord?" Balthazar asked, brushing lint off of his sleeves.

"Go to speak to the one people on this planet who make my daughter seem like a quiet, rational, grownup."

"Who? Who are these freaks of nature?"

"The press."

Global satellite uplink

Dozens of royal guardsmen marched into the auditorium, and surrounded the journalists. Burnished kevlar armor and titanium-alloy swords glistened in the light. Each of them also held, close at hand, an RA-53 L-A-MC.

Several journalists gulped. There was a loud clap. A captain stepped forward. "All rise for Prince Alexander Tyral Black, ruler of Roania, Defender of the Faith."

Everyone in the room leaped to some semblance of attention. Alexander entered, a spring in his step. The captain continued. "May the Heavenly Father protect and inspire his Highness and the government of Roania."

"Thank you, Captain." The prince coughed. "Some of you may have heard rumors that my wife gave birth to a child recently."

There were murmurs in the benches.

"Well, allow me to be the first to say that these rumors were true." Outbursts of shock met him. "My wife gave birth to a daughter yesterday at 5:00 in the evening."

Alarm at the mention of a daughter.

"May I introduce to you, my daughter, Duchess Malissa Lucy Black." Several more guardsmen walked in, with Kelly and a nurse holding a basket. Several cameramen ran up to take pictures, but were shoved backwards by the soldiers. "No pictures, please."

Kelly sighed, and spoke weakly, "No, no. Let them."

Alexander rolled his eyes. "Yes, dear."

One at a time, cameramen walked respectfully up to the nurse and snapped several pictures of the sleeping child.

<---------->

A few hours later, Alexander was going over security blueprints. "Double the security. Anyone who is in the palace, and does not have a pass, shoot on sight."

"This is Roanian Aerospace. Please announce your name and destination, Ms. Maxwell. Capital airport is closed."

Several escort fighters leapt into the atmosphere, waiting for the other plane.

"I'm sure that you would know who of the 3 sisters in the MAxwell family would be sober to fly. Tell Alexander he knows me well. Also I am here to visit my sister. So please send the location of a landing area. And all weapons systems are offline at the moment ," the reply said minus the random shouting of "I thought this was a beer run," and "Damn it man she is trying to talk."

OOC:Heh we all know who hates going to Roania as well and glad to have you back man the boards sucked without you

OOC: Heh.

IC: *beep* This is Roanian Aerospace. There are only two living female members of the Maxwell family. No information on any others is noted in the intelligence books.*

<------------>

"My lord, you should hear about this. A woman claiming to be a member of the Maxwell family is flying over our territory."

Alexander swore. What? What's she doing here? Damn... "Let her land. Put her and any companions under full escort and take them to the Palace."

"Yes, My Lord."

<---------->

"This is Roanian AeroSpace. You are cleared for landing."

"Thank you. Please give me a moment to get my bodygaurd ready," she replies. In the background the loud thumping sounds of someone getting backhanded by a 2x4 or some large object.
-----------------------------------------
"Damn it Eric do you ever stop bitching?" a man in black armor asks him as he lays on the floor rubbing his head while the man holds Eric's helmet. "You guys be nice," the woman in the pilot seat says as she directs the fighter towards the designated landing area
-------------------------------------------

In Jeruselem

It was a nice morning and a courier ran into the Queens personal quarters with another Roanian letter. The sleepy Queen Mariah picked up the letter and popped open the seal.

"Duchess Malissa Lucy Black ... typical, always taking after the mother's side." she thought.

------
In Roania, secret Masonic lodge

Head mason spoke to senior members "Our spies have informed us the child is born. Our dear Prince has a little girl for us kidnap. Everything is in place and we'll make sure our dear Prince is none the wiser. We have 4 Masons in the palace who are servants of the Prince. They attempt to steal the child or kill it if they cannot escape!" and laughs evilly.

OOC

You go catch these masons. It will give something for your security system to do and escuse to torture someone.

Slowly the Longsword started to land at the designated location. Slowly the fighter powers down. Only the transmiter remains active. Slowly the ramp on the fighter lowers and a hulking figure in massive armor steps down first fallowedd by a young inocent looking woman then falloweed by a figure in pure black armor who had a pair of black plasma pistols atached to its belt.

The figure in the black looked around and shoock its head. "One of those days," it says through a voice filter. "Be nice," Echo quickly says as she looks around

OOC: Whoah, whoah, whoah. Alexander needs an excuse to brutally torture someone? When did that happen? Generally it's,

"I don't like your shirt. Go report to the torturer. A little bit off the ears, I think."

Or

"Sir, your hair is a mess. You have an appointment at 6:00 with the HRI. Be there on the dot."

Or even,

"I'm bored. You. No, not you... you! To the duelling chamber with you!"

IC:

"Mrs Maxwell, we have been told to escort you back to the Palace." Ten Royal Guardsmen looked at Echo and the men. They were holding spears. They were pretty, and ornamental, but they were most of all, sharp. Bulges showed where several more functional weapons were stowed.

<---------->

Alexander watched Malissa gurgle. "Can't you speak sense?"

"Gaboo. Ga." She burbled happily.

"Gaboo Ga to you too. Look, can you hold a conversation?" He asked, staring at the baby currently in the process of sucking on his finger. "I guess not. Kelly!"

"Yes, dear?" Kelly asked from behind him.

"Your daughter is starting to wipe away my fingerprints. Please pick her up."

"Aw, she likes you."

"All right then. My bodygaurd is coming though," Echo says as she motions towards the figure in the black armor "Eric stay." "Damn it I'm not a dog," he sharply replies as he goes back into the fighter. The figure in the black armor walks up behind Echo and begens to fallow her as she walks towards the gaurdsmen.

OOC:Heh Alexander is gona enjoy hell at this rate. Echo is so gona enjoy this

The limousine pulled up to the palace, allowing the guests to exit. "The Prince is in the teal drawing room." The captain said, passing Echo a map, and two passes.

Echo nods and takes the map and passes then says "Thank you," before handing one pass to her gaurd in the black armor and begening to walk towards the teal drawing room. As she walked she humed a small tune to herself. It was slightly sad yet it inspired her slightly.

Alexander stepped out of nowhere. "Welcome to my palace, Echo." He said, smiling at her reaction. "I've been wondering who would turn up." He straightened his uniform and fumbled for his sword, ensuring it was hanging by his side. "I don't believe you've met Kelly?"

#tagged for future post...

"Ah yes. I have it was shortly after you tried to shoot yourself and I had to save you," Echo says "Besides atleast you know now to listen to me when I warn you." Echo's gaurd standing behind her stiff as a leaad pole speaks through his voice filter asking "Would you like me to stay here or wait out side madam president?" "Just stay here and relax alittle. Besides Eric is suposed to be the stiff ass that fallows proticole," she says "And just call me Echo. I hate that formal stuff."

Alexander smiled, wanely. "So, you've gone up in the world, Echo. Or should I say, Ms. President?" All of a sudden, a loud cry shattered the quiet. "And that, my friends, would by my 'beloved' daughter." His tongue slid smoothly over the quotation marks.

"Ah well Phoenix steped down. He had 30 years of fun as in two civil wars and dealing with rebels. So he just went back to the basics," Echo says "Oh and Joshua had alittle 'acident' while away. And no he wasn't stabbed like last time or shot in the head or kidnaped and brainwashed. Damn that boy has one colorful history." "Like yours but without all the death and pain and kidnapping," her body gaurd says with a laugh before she punches his helmet. "So how is my sister?"

Alexander looked momentarily concerned. "She's... fine, I'm sure. Yeah." He smiled. "Why don't you ask her yourself? She's resting right now." He opened the door.

Kelly was sitting on a soft backed chair. Several aides hovered around the room. A small crib was beside her. Alexander stepped carefully over, and picked Malissa up. "Echo, please meet: Malissa Lucy Black," the next words came to him painfully, "heir-presumptive to my throne."

The girl looked at Echo, smiling serenely. A thin white fuzz covered her head. She turned, and started to gum her father's forehead.

Alexander grimaced.

OOC: Well, you get your wish. What does Kelly say?

OOC:...Never saw that one comin. Ah hell with it you can have her.
IC:
Echo laughed slightly and knelt down looked at Malissa and smiled. "Hello there," she says with a playful tone in her voice. Echo's gaurd slowly walked over to a wall his plasma pistols hitting his armor and removeed his helmet. Black hair came out, long and scruffy. The brown eyes and smirk gave him away. "Ohya forgot to mention that Phoenix is my gaurd," Echo says as she looks at Alexander.

OOC: Can do.

IC: Kelly smiled. "Hello, Echo. Hello... Phoenix."

Alexander swore and swooped Malissa into his hands. "Guards!"

Kelly put a hand up as several soldiers came in. "Guards, my husband and I, and our guests, are thirsty. Be a dear and tell Balthazar to come up here."

"Yes ma'am."

As they filed out, Kelly shot a look of pure venom at Alexander. Alexander bowed his head apologetically, putting Malissa gently back onto the ground. The white haired little girl made an amused sound at the ride, and lay down on the floor. She tried to pull herself along the ground.

<------------------->

The informer watched as Balthazar ran up to the tower, taking the steps three at a time. "Soon, praise Ishtar, the child shall be ours."

"God your so twitchy," Phoenix says as he glairs at Alexander "Your lucky we didn't decided on Eric to take my place. If you pulled that stunt he would have ripped some gaurds apart." Echo just shakes her head and walks over to Phoenix and just gives him a look.

Alexander laughed inwardly. "Cocky, aren't we?" The Prince waved his hand through the air. A chair suddenly slammed into Phoenix, tumbling him into a sitting position. Another chair gently nudged Echo. "Please, take a seat. While you're in my palace, I am the master. Neither of you have come here before, have you?"

Malissa crawled over to Alexander and started to pull on his pant leg. Alexander didn't pay any attention.

"Ah that old bull..wait I'll be nice around your daughter. But with this armor my reaction time is increased to the point that a normal human would shatter his bones just moving and also my equipment is designedd to take anything out that stands in my way," Phoenix says. Echo again gives him a very agravted look. "I'm sorry about my brother's mood he hasn't been in a good one since he has had anything to shoot.....," Echo says as Phoenix gives her a look that stopped her in mid sentence. "Right then. Also I've grown more powerful myself," Echo says as she stands up then says "Besides I prefer to stand."

Alexander's eyes flashed. "As you wish." He absentmindedly scooted Malissa away with his foot. "However, Phoenix, you'll find it hard to do any violence in this palace."

Kelly picked Malissa up gently, and rubbed her head. "Echo, Phoenix, how have you been. Is Joshua okay?"

Balthazar appeared at the door. "My lords and ladies, may I get you a drink?"

"Bite me. Besides hope no body gets close to Eric he realy dosn't like it here," Phoenix says with a evil smirk on his face. "Joshua is fine. Just a little interesting on what happened. As you can remember he was 23 when he was turned to save his life. If he wasn't he would have been killed. But anyways strangly enugh the experimental batch that was injected in to him has done the unexpected. It reveresed the wear of the cell caps in his body to the point of a 19 year old," Echo says as she pulls a small holo-projecter from her pocket and flicked it on. A small projection of several aged cells is shown before and affter the nano-injection.

Alexander locked eyes with Balthazar. The man wilted, and nodded. He went out.

Alexander smirked. "So, Joshua is nineteen years old? I bet his girlfriend isn't happy."

Malissa started to cry. Alexander turned about irritably, and waved his hand. The girl suddenly found a pacifier in her mouth. Smirking once more at demonstrating his power, Alexander turned to face his guests.

Only to have Kelly slap the back of his head.

"Oh personaly she is quite happy from what I hear. Also his telakentic abilitys are shokcingly more powerful than expected," Echo says as she glairs at Alexander. "Weres a terrorist when you need one," Phoenix mumbles under his breath.

Alexander kept a laugh from breaking out as he rubbed the back of his head and made a muttered apology to Kelly. Then he just sat, and stared at Phoenix, watching with those two cold blue eyes. A psychic feeling of total distaste could be felt from emanating from him. It was very, very obvious that not only had Alexander heard Phoenix, he had also placed the former president slightly below cockaroaches on his scale of intelligent beings.

Kelly coughed. "So... how are things in Phalanix?"

In the park, two men in dark coats and glasses sat in their car watching from afar. One took out a cigar revealing his masonic ring momentarily and said to the other "Everything is in order. Soon we will have the innocent child of the Prince in our control, to start the revolution against the Christians and the Elves. As soon as the blood of Malissa feeds our Goddess, we will control Roania". His partner looked around uneasily "and if we fail, the Catholics will be filling the streets with our blood".

They moved on and disappeared into the darkness.

"Well other than the little problems in the ex-capital Phoenix everything is fine. Even got Paladin back into shape and the population is ten times as large than before the wars," Echo says as she walks over to Phoenix and messes up his hair playfuly. "Couldn't resist," she says with a laugh. A few seconds later Phoenix cracked a smile and shook his head slightly.

Alexander turned, suddenly. One of the servants had just spilled a glass onto the floor. It had shattered, and one of the pieces was lying in reach of the curious Malissa. The baby reached for it. The Prince quickly sent it flying with a well aimed kick, and picked Malissa up. Then he turned to the pitiful servant. "You made a mistake."

The servant whimpered. Alexander raised his hand, and pointed it at the man. A black trace of energy just leapt from it, and the man began to warp, his image shifting and fading away.

Kelly looked uncomfortable. "Paladin is repaired? Maybe I'll visit it when Malissa is walking, and less likely to put sharp objects in her mouth."

OOC: Is Echo going to stop Alex?

Echo watched as the glass fell and Alexander kicked the broken glass away. She quickly got up and walked over to him then slaped him. "You sometimes sicken me," She says so only he can hear. Phoenix who easly heard this shook his head slightly then walked over to the broken glass and picked it up quickly. "Yes anyways Paladin is repaired to a new stage. But the ware house distric hasn't been the easy job so we decided to leave it untill the bigger problems happen," Echo says as she tries to ease the tension in the room.

OOC:Yup and I burned my hand and dear god does it hurt!

Alexander's psychic energies were sent flying to the wall. A deathly look appeared on his face.

Kelly smiled. "Would you like me to show you around Roan?"

"Better bring the walking death squad along so he dosn't kill anyone while we are gone," Phoenix says with a slight laugh before he is scilenced by a look from Echo. "I would love to," she says as she gives a icy cold look at Alexander one more time.

Alexander returned the look, with interest.

<--------------->

The car drove out of the Palace bay, surrounded by twenty armored vehicles. Alexander smiled. "I presume the two of you are hungry?"

<-------------->


Malissa sat peacefully in her crib. Around her, the guards all stood to attention, sleeping behind their helmets.

One of the servants snuck quietly to a back door, to let in the other masons...

Phoenix sat slightly uncomfertable then says "You sure those idiots can protect your daughter? I thought half were asleep and the other half are probably already to." Echo alittle unnerved by Phoenix's coment figits in her seat slightly at the thought of the gaurds sleeping.