05-20-2020, 05:14 AM
Tlālacuetztla
May 18th
If Tlālacuetztla was the capital of an Empire under siege, no one would have known it from a glance.
The city's work crews had spent days cleaning, shining up and decorating the city with Imperial flair. Xiomeran flags and banners hung from every building, streetlight and flagpole. Along the grand Avenue Huatlcoapahua leading from the Palace of Flowers to the Empress Camaxtica Boulevard that ran to the very center of Tlālacuetztla, Imperial soldiers in dress uniforms were lined up in flawless precision. Crowds waited along the streetside, a mixture of curious and watchful. The procession to honor the new Emperor, Xochiuhue, was taking place.
At precisely 9:00 am, the gates to the Palace swung open, and the procession began its stately roll towards the center of the capital. Imperial police and military vehicles escorted the long, black Imperial limousine as it made its way past the crowds. Sitting next to the new Emperor, General Xōchhuitl watched the crowds as they rolled past. "They could stand to be more enthusiastic," he grumbled. Unlike past Imperial processions, there wasn't much cheering or flag-waving going on. The crowds instead seemed subdued and wary.
Xochiuhue chuckled at the General's remark. "You're being grumpy, Xōchhuitl. The people will learn to accept and embrace this change in time. I will give them reason to forget Yauhmi soon enough. And if nothing else...it doesn't matter terribly much if the people are enthusiastic about the new order of things, as long as they obey and follow orders."
The General nodded to that, a slight smile on his face, as the procession arrived at the Huēyi Teōcalli. The priests of Xiomera's great temple were about to give their formal blessing to the new Emperor, the final step in becoming the Xiomeran ruler. The vehicles came to a stop, and the Emperor's security quickly exited. Since the Shorn Ones had fled, Imperial security was now being handled by a mix of ASI agents and soldiers. The General emerged first from the limousine, followed by the Emperor. The two of them began their walk up the long front steps to the temple's front doors, to complete silence.
"We want Yauhmi!"
The shout broke the utter silence as clear as if was a gunshot. First one voice from the crowd. Then two. Then a dozen.
"We want Yauhmi! We want the Empress! Restore the Empress!"
General Xōchhuitl's face hardened as he turned to glare at the crowd. If he was hoping his stern look would silence the protesters, his hope was quickly dashed as more voices took up the chant. Next to him, Emperor Xochiuhue did not deign to turn around. He raised a finger, and the General turned back to continue following him up the stairs. As the two of them reached the top of the stairs, another shout echoed out.
"You are not the Emperor!"
At that shout, Xochiuhue stopped at the top of the stairs. He raised an eyebrow. This time, he did turn to look at the General. Xōchhuitl quickly signaled in Xiomeran battle language for some of the soldiers on the perimeter to cut the protesters out of the crowd and make an example of them. As the soldiers waded into the crowd, the new Emperor walked into the temple as if nothing had happened.
---
Chuaztlapoc
"This is not where I expected to end up," Cozamalotl said calmly.
"I don't think any of us expected this detour. But with the overthrow of Noxochicotzin, the Necatli lands are no longer safe. This was the last resort," Natcahuacu said practically.
"I am not sure this was a safer choice than Necuatexi," Cuetzhual said warily as he sat down. "This is the sacred camp of the Shorn Ones - the sworn servants of the Empress, remember? We're the opposition. I can't imagine that servants of the throne are our biggest fans."
"You're thinking in old terms, Cuetzhual," Natcahuacu replied chidingly. "Whether someone is a loyalist to Yauhmi or a member of the opposition hardly matters now. A new force has taken over this country, and it's a threat to all of us. We'll have to make new alliances to beat that force. The old conflicts are not important now, we have to focus on beating Xochiuhue and the junta."
"Well said," another voice echoed out into the room. The three activists turned at the sound of the voice. Etlahuatzitl, the tlacateccatl of the Shorn Ones, was standing in the doorway. Her long braid of gray hair and lined features might have made her seem grandmotherly - the blue, red and yellow face paint she wore and her sharp hazel eyes said otherwise. "Well said, and very accurate. We all have a far greater enemy at the moment. And until that enemy is defeated, Chuaztlapoc shall provide you a safe haven. You have my word of honor on that."
"That is greatly appreciated," Cuetzhual replied. "But how long can this place stand as a safe haven? Even the Shorn Ones can't hold off the entire Empire for long."
Etlahuatzitl grinned as she sat down. "I wouldn't be so sure of that, young one. But in any event, Chuaztlapoc is just going to be the beginning. Didn't you see how Xochiuhue was mocked at his own grand procession? The people will not stand for what is happening here forever. Sooner or later - sooner, in my estimation - they will begin rising. We must keep the flame of resistance alive until they are ready to do so. That is the purpose the gods and goddesses have for Chuaztlapoc. And that is why they brought you here."
---
Xochiatipan
"How in the world did you manage to escape from the capital and make your way here?" Huitzilhuani asked, her face eager. Next to her, Tlanextia, the former Secretary of Trade, had a much more skeptical expression on her own face.
"I have my ways. Ways which are best not disclosed - for my protection and your own," Tlālzixiuhxa replied.
Tlanextia snorted. "Why should we trust you then?"
"I was Yauhmi's spokeswoman and confidant. Isn't that enough?" Tlālzixiuhxa said with her head tilted in slight disdain.
"No," Tlanextia replied coldly.
"Calm down, Tlanextia. If she managed to get out of the dragnet around the capital, when so many of the Empress' servants did not, I believe she can be trusted," Huitzilhuani said. "And what makes you so sure? For all we know, the junta sent this one here to infiltrate us," Tlanextia began, only to be stopped by an ice-cold glare from Tlālzixiuhxa that was as effective as a slap at cutting her off.
"I owe Yauhmi more than you can even imagine," Tlālzixiuhxa snapped. "She once held my life in her hands - and gave my life back to me. If you think I would betray her, or the cause she believed in, you're as senile as you look, you old bat. But I strongly suggest that you avoid ever suggesting such a thing in my presence again." The clear malice emerging from Tlālzixiuhxa made both Huitzilhuani and Tlanextia pause like deer in the headlights. After a moment, Huitzilhuani had to ask. "College professor, hah. Who are you?"
"Again, that is something best not disclosed - for your sake as well as my own. Just get it through your heads - I am here to help you." The tone in Tlālzixiuhxa's voice made it clear that this was an avenue that the other two would be well served not to venture down. "Fair enough," Tlanextia said after a moment. "But how, exactly, do you propose to help us?"
"You're doing underground charity work, which is wonderful. But no amount of charity is going to bring down this Emperor or the junta. The people must rise. And people like you - like us - have to be the catalyst for that. There must be protests, rebellion, attacks on everyone and everything that would swear allegiance to this fake Emperor." Tlālzixiuhxa's eyebrows drew together as Tlanextia snorted again. "That sounds like a good way to get shot or thrown in a jail cell. You want us to lead our followers into that?"
"Yes. Because that is the only way to save Yauhmi, what she fought for, and this country," Tlālzixiuhxa said implacably.
"Yauhmi is probably already dead," Tlanextia snapped. "Don't kill the messenger," she added as Tlālzixiuhxa glared. "She has been in the custody of ASI for over a month now. No one lives through that, at least, not the same way they went in. Why should we risk ourselves for someone who is probably already dead?"
"It's not just about Yauhmi. Texōccoatl is the next in line. Even if Yauhmi is lost, Texōccoatl can take over," Huitzilhuani jumped in.
"Texōccoatl? So, another Topilpopoca? That's what you want us to risk lives for?" Tlanextia laughed in shock. "We used to work for Topilpopoca, remember?" Huitzilhuani replied. "Yes, but we were trying to change things from the inside under that Emperor. And we see how far it got us - fired, and now underground. I am half inclined to say screw Yauhmi and Texōccoatl and the junta. None of them should be in charge," Tlanextia sighed.
"You may be right. So....who do you propose to replace them all?" Huitzilhuani asked. Tlanextia opened her mouth, closed it, opened it once more, and finally just sighed again.
"Exactly," Huitzilhuani said in triumph. "There really isn't anyone else. So, out of less than perfect options, you pick the least imperfect one. Yauhmi and Texōccoatl win that argument by default."
"Indeed. I had to flee Tlālacuetztla because the enemy's grip is too strong there. But the further away from the capital you go, the more tenuous their grip is. Outlying cities like Xochiatipan are where any rebellion against this new tyrant must begin," Tlālzixiuhxa said firmly.
"But they have all the guns, and with all due respect, spirit and will don't stop bullets." Tlanextia's expression changed from frustration to shock as Tlālzixiuhxa laughed. "If you add up every single soldier, sailor, airman, policeman and all the rest, there are maybe 800,000 of them who have guns. And not all of them side with this new Emperor, and would gladly join a rebellion if it looked like one might actually work. So, say, 450,000 of the guys with guns stick to this new Emperor. Get a few million Xiomerans marching in the streets, with the other 450,000 guys with guns next to them, and trust me....the bad 450,000 will run. Run away screaming for mercy, in fact. They may be daft enough to support this junta and its fake Emperor, but even they're not stupid enough to try to fight off an entire country that's pissed off and ready to steamroll over them, guns or not," Tlālzixiuhxa said.
"That sounds great in theory - no, actually, it even sounds bad in theory. It sounds even worse when you think about putting it into practice. You're assuming enough Xiomerans hate what the junta and this new Emperor are doing to risk their comfortable and comforming lives for it - or that even most Xiomerans agree with Yauhmi or any other reformist. How in the hell do you think people like Xōchhuitl and Xochiuhue gain power in the first place? It's because at least some of the people agree with them. That is a huge flaw in your theory - you don't account for how many Xiomerans might like the junta." Tlanextia folded her arms and looked at Tlālzixiuhxa, who finally nodded. "You're right. There are some Xiomerans who are comfortable, who prosper under people like Xochiuhue, or who just won't want to risk change. And there are some who are just plain evil-minded, like Xochiuhue and the General and the rest of that lot," Tlālzixiuhxa said. "But I believe that is a much smaller number of Xiomerans than you think. The people in power want us to think that we're vastly outnumbered. I disagree. I think Yauhmi didn't become so popular because of her charming personality - gods know she can be a witch sometimes. But I think that people in this country fell for her vision, not for her. They saw what this country could become - and I don't think they'll let some little coterie of powerful people in Tlālacuetztla take that away from them. Not this time. If we don't try, though, we'll never know. It comes down to that. Do you think that Yauhmi's vision of Xiomera is worth fighting for? Or do you think the version of Xiomera that Xochiuhue wants is tolerable enough, as long as you get to live?"
Tlanextia shook her head after a moment of silence. "Damnit. There is really only one answer to that."
"There really is," Tlālzixiuhxa said, not without sympathy.
May 18th
If Tlālacuetztla was the capital of an Empire under siege, no one would have known it from a glance.
The city's work crews had spent days cleaning, shining up and decorating the city with Imperial flair. Xiomeran flags and banners hung from every building, streetlight and flagpole. Along the grand Avenue Huatlcoapahua leading from the Palace of Flowers to the Empress Camaxtica Boulevard that ran to the very center of Tlālacuetztla, Imperial soldiers in dress uniforms were lined up in flawless precision. Crowds waited along the streetside, a mixture of curious and watchful. The procession to honor the new Emperor, Xochiuhue, was taking place.
At precisely 9:00 am, the gates to the Palace swung open, and the procession began its stately roll towards the center of the capital. Imperial police and military vehicles escorted the long, black Imperial limousine as it made its way past the crowds. Sitting next to the new Emperor, General Xōchhuitl watched the crowds as they rolled past. "They could stand to be more enthusiastic," he grumbled. Unlike past Imperial processions, there wasn't much cheering or flag-waving going on. The crowds instead seemed subdued and wary.
Xochiuhue chuckled at the General's remark. "You're being grumpy, Xōchhuitl. The people will learn to accept and embrace this change in time. I will give them reason to forget Yauhmi soon enough. And if nothing else...it doesn't matter terribly much if the people are enthusiastic about the new order of things, as long as they obey and follow orders."
The General nodded to that, a slight smile on his face, as the procession arrived at the Huēyi Teōcalli. The priests of Xiomera's great temple were about to give their formal blessing to the new Emperor, the final step in becoming the Xiomeran ruler. The vehicles came to a stop, and the Emperor's security quickly exited. Since the Shorn Ones had fled, Imperial security was now being handled by a mix of ASI agents and soldiers. The General emerged first from the limousine, followed by the Emperor. The two of them began their walk up the long front steps to the temple's front doors, to complete silence.
"We want Yauhmi!"
The shout broke the utter silence as clear as if was a gunshot. First one voice from the crowd. Then two. Then a dozen.
"We want Yauhmi! We want the Empress! Restore the Empress!"
General Xōchhuitl's face hardened as he turned to glare at the crowd. If he was hoping his stern look would silence the protesters, his hope was quickly dashed as more voices took up the chant. Next to him, Emperor Xochiuhue did not deign to turn around. He raised a finger, and the General turned back to continue following him up the stairs. As the two of them reached the top of the stairs, another shout echoed out.
"You are not the Emperor!"
At that shout, Xochiuhue stopped at the top of the stairs. He raised an eyebrow. This time, he did turn to look at the General. Xōchhuitl quickly signaled in Xiomeran battle language for some of the soldiers on the perimeter to cut the protesters out of the crowd and make an example of them. As the soldiers waded into the crowd, the new Emperor walked into the temple as if nothing had happened.
---
Chuaztlapoc
"This is not where I expected to end up," Cozamalotl said calmly.
"I don't think any of us expected this detour. But with the overthrow of Noxochicotzin, the Necatli lands are no longer safe. This was the last resort," Natcahuacu said practically.
"I am not sure this was a safer choice than Necuatexi," Cuetzhual said warily as he sat down. "This is the sacred camp of the Shorn Ones - the sworn servants of the Empress, remember? We're the opposition. I can't imagine that servants of the throne are our biggest fans."
"You're thinking in old terms, Cuetzhual," Natcahuacu replied chidingly. "Whether someone is a loyalist to Yauhmi or a member of the opposition hardly matters now. A new force has taken over this country, and it's a threat to all of us. We'll have to make new alliances to beat that force. The old conflicts are not important now, we have to focus on beating Xochiuhue and the junta."
"Well said," another voice echoed out into the room. The three activists turned at the sound of the voice. Etlahuatzitl, the tlacateccatl of the Shorn Ones, was standing in the doorway. Her long braid of gray hair and lined features might have made her seem grandmotherly - the blue, red and yellow face paint she wore and her sharp hazel eyes said otherwise. "Well said, and very accurate. We all have a far greater enemy at the moment. And until that enemy is defeated, Chuaztlapoc shall provide you a safe haven. You have my word of honor on that."
"That is greatly appreciated," Cuetzhual replied. "But how long can this place stand as a safe haven? Even the Shorn Ones can't hold off the entire Empire for long."
Etlahuatzitl grinned as she sat down. "I wouldn't be so sure of that, young one. But in any event, Chuaztlapoc is just going to be the beginning. Didn't you see how Xochiuhue was mocked at his own grand procession? The people will not stand for what is happening here forever. Sooner or later - sooner, in my estimation - they will begin rising. We must keep the flame of resistance alive until they are ready to do so. That is the purpose the gods and goddesses have for Chuaztlapoc. And that is why they brought you here."
---
Xochiatipan
"How in the world did you manage to escape from the capital and make your way here?" Huitzilhuani asked, her face eager. Next to her, Tlanextia, the former Secretary of Trade, had a much more skeptical expression on her own face.
"I have my ways. Ways which are best not disclosed - for my protection and your own," Tlālzixiuhxa replied.
Tlanextia snorted. "Why should we trust you then?"
"I was Yauhmi's spokeswoman and confidant. Isn't that enough?" Tlālzixiuhxa said with her head tilted in slight disdain.
"No," Tlanextia replied coldly.
"Calm down, Tlanextia. If she managed to get out of the dragnet around the capital, when so many of the Empress' servants did not, I believe she can be trusted," Huitzilhuani said. "And what makes you so sure? For all we know, the junta sent this one here to infiltrate us," Tlanextia began, only to be stopped by an ice-cold glare from Tlālzixiuhxa that was as effective as a slap at cutting her off.
"I owe Yauhmi more than you can even imagine," Tlālzixiuhxa snapped. "She once held my life in her hands - and gave my life back to me. If you think I would betray her, or the cause she believed in, you're as senile as you look, you old bat. But I strongly suggest that you avoid ever suggesting such a thing in my presence again." The clear malice emerging from Tlālzixiuhxa made both Huitzilhuani and Tlanextia pause like deer in the headlights. After a moment, Huitzilhuani had to ask. "College professor, hah. Who are you?"
"Again, that is something best not disclosed - for your sake as well as my own. Just get it through your heads - I am here to help you." The tone in Tlālzixiuhxa's voice made it clear that this was an avenue that the other two would be well served not to venture down. "Fair enough," Tlanextia said after a moment. "But how, exactly, do you propose to help us?"
"You're doing underground charity work, which is wonderful. But no amount of charity is going to bring down this Emperor or the junta. The people must rise. And people like you - like us - have to be the catalyst for that. There must be protests, rebellion, attacks on everyone and everything that would swear allegiance to this fake Emperor." Tlālzixiuhxa's eyebrows drew together as Tlanextia snorted again. "That sounds like a good way to get shot or thrown in a jail cell. You want us to lead our followers into that?"
"Yes. Because that is the only way to save Yauhmi, what she fought for, and this country," Tlālzixiuhxa said implacably.
"Yauhmi is probably already dead," Tlanextia snapped. "Don't kill the messenger," she added as Tlālzixiuhxa glared. "She has been in the custody of ASI for over a month now. No one lives through that, at least, not the same way they went in. Why should we risk ourselves for someone who is probably already dead?"
"It's not just about Yauhmi. Texōccoatl is the next in line. Even if Yauhmi is lost, Texōccoatl can take over," Huitzilhuani jumped in.
"Texōccoatl? So, another Topilpopoca? That's what you want us to risk lives for?" Tlanextia laughed in shock. "We used to work for Topilpopoca, remember?" Huitzilhuani replied. "Yes, but we were trying to change things from the inside under that Emperor. And we see how far it got us - fired, and now underground. I am half inclined to say screw Yauhmi and Texōccoatl and the junta. None of them should be in charge," Tlanextia sighed.
"You may be right. So....who do you propose to replace them all?" Huitzilhuani asked. Tlanextia opened her mouth, closed it, opened it once more, and finally just sighed again.
"Exactly," Huitzilhuani said in triumph. "There really isn't anyone else. So, out of less than perfect options, you pick the least imperfect one. Yauhmi and Texōccoatl win that argument by default."
"Indeed. I had to flee Tlālacuetztla because the enemy's grip is too strong there. But the further away from the capital you go, the more tenuous their grip is. Outlying cities like Xochiatipan are where any rebellion against this new tyrant must begin," Tlālzixiuhxa said firmly.
"But they have all the guns, and with all due respect, spirit and will don't stop bullets." Tlanextia's expression changed from frustration to shock as Tlālzixiuhxa laughed. "If you add up every single soldier, sailor, airman, policeman and all the rest, there are maybe 800,000 of them who have guns. And not all of them side with this new Emperor, and would gladly join a rebellion if it looked like one might actually work. So, say, 450,000 of the guys with guns stick to this new Emperor. Get a few million Xiomerans marching in the streets, with the other 450,000 guys with guns next to them, and trust me....the bad 450,000 will run. Run away screaming for mercy, in fact. They may be daft enough to support this junta and its fake Emperor, but even they're not stupid enough to try to fight off an entire country that's pissed off and ready to steamroll over them, guns or not," Tlālzixiuhxa said.
"That sounds great in theory - no, actually, it even sounds bad in theory. It sounds even worse when you think about putting it into practice. You're assuming enough Xiomerans hate what the junta and this new Emperor are doing to risk their comfortable and comforming lives for it - or that even most Xiomerans agree with Yauhmi or any other reformist. How in the hell do you think people like Xōchhuitl and Xochiuhue gain power in the first place? It's because at least some of the people agree with them. That is a huge flaw in your theory - you don't account for how many Xiomerans might like the junta." Tlanextia folded her arms and looked at Tlālzixiuhxa, who finally nodded. "You're right. There are some Xiomerans who are comfortable, who prosper under people like Xochiuhue, or who just won't want to risk change. And there are some who are just plain evil-minded, like Xochiuhue and the General and the rest of that lot," Tlālzixiuhxa said. "But I believe that is a much smaller number of Xiomerans than you think. The people in power want us to think that we're vastly outnumbered. I disagree. I think Yauhmi didn't become so popular because of her charming personality - gods know she can be a witch sometimes. But I think that people in this country fell for her vision, not for her. They saw what this country could become - and I don't think they'll let some little coterie of powerful people in Tlālacuetztla take that away from them. Not this time. If we don't try, though, we'll never know. It comes down to that. Do you think that Yauhmi's vision of Xiomera is worth fighting for? Or do you think the version of Xiomera that Xochiuhue wants is tolerable enough, as long as you get to live?"
Tlanextia shook her head after a moment of silence. "Damnit. There is really only one answer to that."
"There really is," Tlālzixiuhxa said, not without sympathy.
<t></t>