Why He Killed the Emperor, Part Ii

...He’d push the tech until light years took just days for men to travel, wrote laws that stood the test of time, so the species didn’t unravel. Even wrote the curriculums that adapted to student’s needs, enough chaos to keep things fresh, enough order so we didn’t bleed. He made humanity stable, something it had once never been, Guiscard brought us the Golden Age, the greatest amongst living men. And it was quite a shock to us when we heard the great man was dead, murdered by a mere janitor, stabbed deep in the back of the head. All know that janitor’s name now, Chin Miller, just some working schlub, no criminal record had he, at life the man seemed like a dud. He’d not accomplished anything, not brains, no great strength, no hard work, to this day people wonder why he became a murderous jerk. No one has yet to answer that, well, nobody out there but me, and you ask how I know the truth, how all this could possibly be? See I’m the executioner who sent Chin Miller to the grave, and to me he spoke his last words, and good lord the words he did say… I remember the man’s grave look, he did not look afraid to die, just looked at me and said, “Please hear why I did this horrible crime. “Someone should know why I killed him, the truth that would defy belief, it wasn’t hate that drove my hand, I sought to give Guiscard relief. “I cleaned as I was paid to do, the way I’d cleaned for fifteen years, found the Emperor just inside of the palace, nearly in tears. “I say nearly because his face looked much like it wanted to weep, but remained dry, looking listless, not a tear from his eyes did seep. “I asked him if I should come back, but he just motioned me to stay, I cleaned around him awkwardly, until he turned and faced my way. “Said, ‘Chin, there is something I need.’ I was shocked the man knew my name, all I did was sweep up his halls, and yet he knew me just the same. “He said, ‘Last night I had a son, my six hundred and forty-third, his mother looked on, overjoyed, and I faked a smile for her. “ ‘But as I held that crying babe I admit to feeling nothing, no joy, no pride, nor cold sadness, nothing made made my heart cry of sing. “ ‘And Chin, I knew that would happen, since it’s happened often before, my first child had me bawling, now I can’t wait to get out the door. “ ‘I used to have my favorite foods, was rather fond of good poutine, now everything has become bland, be it meats or something green... CONCLUDES IN PART III.