Location: Blackwood Throne Hall – Strategy Forum in Session
POV: 5i – Daughter of Number 5
The silence in the hall was almost sacred—broken only by the soft, eerie hum of the central Dominion Orb pulsing with red light.
All eyes were on me.
Rebellion in Sector 14.
Led by 77ii—a child born of a First Class citizen, now daring to challenge the order Blackwood himself set.
Her family had once bid billions for their rank. Now they raised armies in the shadows.
The Dictator leaned forward. "5i, the Forum demands your judgment."
I could feel Classic watching me too, though he said nothing. Testing me.
I stood. Calm. Controlled. Cold.
> "Rebellion is not born of chaos. It is born of illusion," I said. "She—77ii—thinks the empire is soft. She thinks mercy is the rule. I will correct that thought."
Classic gave the faintest nod. The Dictator smirked slightly.
I continued.
> "I recommend complete tactical suppression. Zero civilian casualties. We infiltrate with ghost teams, extract her for public trial, sentence her through the Number Tribunal, and make the results global. Let the numbers understand this: titles can be bought… but respect must be earned and fear must be maintained."
The Orb turned green. Approval from the Council.
The Dictator rose slowly. "Your plan is clean. Efficient. Calculated. You've impressed me, 5i."
Classic added, "You think like a number. That's rare… for a firstborn."
I bowed slightly, maintaining eye contact with neither of them.
The Blackwood Empire didn't reward arrogance. But it did respect precision.
---
Later – Dominion Command Bunker
Location: Sector 14 – War Room
I stood over the digital map, surrounded by holograms of my ghost team.
Commander Brix saluted me. "Are you sure you want to lead this op personally, 5i?"
> "If I send others to do my work," I replied, donning my mask, "I'm no better than the rebels."
---
Rebel Hideout – Sector 14
Time: 03:14 Blackwood Standard Time
The walls exploded in silent bursts. Ghost units poured in with surgical strikes. No mercy. No mess. No screams.
77ii tried to run. She didn't get far.
I pinned her to the ground with my boot.
She spat in my face. "You think this will make you a Blackwood? You're just a number like the rest of us!"
I leaned down, removing my mask.
> "No," I whispered, "I am 5i. And I'm not like the rest of you. I'm better."
She was sedated and extracted. Her trial would be streamed to every citizen across the empire.
---
Back in the Throne Hall
As I knelt before the Dominion Orb, it pulsed golden—symbol of exceptional action.
The Dictator stood. "5i, daughter of Number 5… You have surpassed expectation. I motion to promote her to provisional Number 4i, future heir candidate, and grant her Dominion Status over Sector 14."
Classic blinked. "4i? Already?"
Chris's voice rang out from the upper balcony—he had been watching the whole time.
> "Let her rise. The empire must be ruled by power... not patience."
And just like that…
5i was no longer just a daughter.
She was becoming a legend.
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