Sleeper #4 is an issue of the series Sleeper (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2003. It was published on April 16, 2003.
Synopsis for "Illusions"
Holden Carver stealthily climbs up to the penthouse of the Secret Monarchy's powerful man, who Carver is ordered to kill.
Moments ago, Holden, Miss Misery and Tao observes the true rulers of the world in a secure room for some time after Tao arrived. Tao is amuse as the rulers are quarreling than usual which goes exactly as he had planned, much to Holden's confusion. Holden is still skeptical of the Secret Monarchy as the true rulers, and Tao have him and Miss Misery to attend the reception.
At the reception, Holden meets up with Miss Misery. Holden then questions her as to how a powerful society manages to rule the world and is never stopped by anyone such as the Authority. Misery explains that the Monarchy has been the true roots of the systems that governs Earth and has always been for thousands of years. Among the members of the Secret Monarchy are Yuri Kasakov, the true architect of the Russian Revolution, and Joshua March, the highest ranking member of the society. Tao is a member, but he only serves as a background advisor. Holden then questions how such a society has been keeping itself secret in which Misery tells a story of a reporter who unintentionally discovered Imperial Grove and was found out. The reporter's background was checked and then released back to society; however, upon arriving back to his home the reporter discovered that his life was literally erased by the Monarchy. Hence its absolute secrecy.
Upon going back to Tao, Holden is introduced to Diamanda M'Batu, the queen of Egypt and monarch of Africa, who requests Tao to have Joshua Marsh vote favorably for her. Tao then has Holden stay with him and observe his meetings with the other monarchies. Holden observes these meetings, most of which are not very important and mundane. Among those that came is Marsh, who didn't really seem to like Tao's presence at his party. Finally came Marsh's son, Francis. Tao fully reveals his intention and tells a shocked Francis that he will elevate him and replace his father. The younger Marsh is extremely apprehensive about this, but Tao assures him that his father will die by "natural heart attack" by Holden Carver.
The plan for the elder Marsh is laid out as Joshua Marsh deactivates the security system at his penthouse on his way for a late swim for thirty seconds. This is when Holden infiltrate Marsh's penthouse and wait for Marsh to come back for him to kill, and Francis will vote the way Tao tells him. In order for Marsh's death to be natural, Holden absorbs a charge of electricity and shocks Joshua to give him enough pain that can give him a coronary. As Holden slips away unnoticed from Marsh's security, who discover their dead boss, he wonders if John Lynch would have wanted this to happen.
Arriving to his room, he finds Miss Misery waiting for him, naked. Misery says to him that she wants to make love with him, much to Holden's surprise as he originally thought she has relations with Tao, in which Misery replies that it happened "sometimes" and "sometimes not." Misery then asks him what he thought about her from last night from beating Etcher to death. Holden admits his feelings to her and the two have sex, knowing that Tao would kill them for this.
The next day, Tao's plans have gone accordingly with Francis' ascension, with the monarchies' votes varying with controversy. In the end Tao makes every member turn against each other. With the anger and dissents brewing, Francis decides to leave early. As Francis is slightly bewildered, Tao advises him that everything will work out and suggests that he needs children for an heir. After Francis leaves on his plane, Carver then questions Tao as of all the manipulations he only had Francis to undo all of his work, and wants to know why. Tao simply answer that he grew tired of the way of how old and boring that the world is governed and that with Francis' ascension thanks to Holden's and Miss Misery's objectives (that she committed this morning), is enough to rock the Monarchy's system.
Appearing in "Illusions"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Miss Misery
- Diamanda M'Batu
- Francis Marsh (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Nathaniel Oberst
- Yuri Kasokov
- Joshua Marsh (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- Imperial Grove
See Also