by DC Bastien
A snort from the taller man.
"What?" Kip asked.
"We keep saying 'they' like we don't know it's 'he'." Ithon slapped his hands against his thighs. "I'm going for a walk. And no, Kip, that isn't an invitation to join me."
Kre watched as the Enforcer left, then flickered her gaze to the Captain. Vadim held his hand up for silence, and Kre figured he was waiting for the other to get out of earshot before they spoke.
"Is it truly as bad as he believes?" she asked.
"Honestly? Kinda. He's got the pull to fake a Za, and it looks like to kill one. I think if he actually wanted to go the whole hog, then you might well not be around to ask me that."
"Surely he cannot be that powerful?"
"Really? Someone paid the Bankers for that whole face-shifting thing. And we never found out because we didn't want to find out. We wanted to stick our heads in the mud and pretend we'd not heard anything. And what did he go and do? Kill your dad."
Kre pulled her tail around her waist, stroking it up and down her side. She rarely got that nervous these days – not since she was a little cub – but the thought that their passive hiding from the bigger problem had lead to Ail's death? That was hard to stomach.
"Plus, he used to be Ur. And he was a goddamn Judge. They pretty much know every major criminal there is, because they sentence them. And the Ur has to be one step ahead of the criminals, remember? Or the ones they catch, leastwise. He's got connections. And knowledge. And money. And..."
"Something is bothering you."
"Yeah. I get wanting money. I get wanting power. I mean, I don't want them, but I get someone wanting."
"But you do not get... why he showed his hand?"
"...yeah. I mean. Is he insane? Does he actually want to get caught, or want the thrill of being hunted and not caught? Does he feel like if no one knows he's doing the things he's doing that... that they don't matter? Does he want a witness, or...?"
Kre's tongue flickered out. "It could be something more prosaic. Something less complicated."
"Like?"
"It could be personal."
"Yeah, but... how?"
Kre tossed her head in the direction of the recently departed Avery.
"But why?" Vadim pushed. "Why is he acting all spooked on me? I mean... I get that he felt betrayed, and I figure he must be embarrassed admitting he didn't know, but... everyone makes mistakes."
"You know your mate better than we do," Kre insisted. Though she was wondering if he did, or if he was being intentionally obtuse in this respect.
"Apparently I don't."
"Can we make any charge stick? Can we even levy a charge against him, yet?" She shifted the conversation back as it clearly was getting her nowhere fast with the previous angle.
"Honestly? No. I can see why he was suspicious, but the bastard covered his tracks well. I mean, it's all... it's kind of the shadow, like he said. The light that maybe should be there, but is a bit less than you expect. And the fact he knows we know, and he knows we know he knows we know?"
"...how do we stop him?"
"Other than somehow send him some chocolates laced with ricin?" Vadim slumped into the chair, dropping his head onto the table. "No. I don't know. We have the Sianar Za and more or less the unofficial support of the whole Roq elder council or whatever they call themselves... and what do we got? A box file that wasn't even enough ten years ago. Plenty of dead ends – and dead witnesses – and an ex real estate agent who made a call to a realtor's office and that's... it. Oh, and a single word and no trail from a crazy Sianar who was technically under duress and who will no doubt be a completely deniable, useless liability."
Kre walked over and put her paw between his head and the third iteration of it against the table.
"We need to look at this another way," she said, putting her other paw on his shoulders and stroking slowly down his spine. "Perhaps you need some distance, first?"
He garbled something unintelligible into her hand, then flopped lifelessly.
"I think... I think I might have an idea." That was Ithon, who had somehow stolen back up on them. "But you're not going to like it."
***
[Ashroe: The sad thing is, they probably could build a case against him. They'd just need more time and probably Eru and Toan to get their own Super Secret Team on the case.]
[Sianor: Oh, and you know Toan would be on board with that. I'm now imagining the two of them turning into BFF Matriarchs. Like, no animosity really, but that begrudging respect and polite co-existence.]
[Ashroe: Yeah, like Cold War enemy front line forces. They realise how much they have in common with their counterpart, more so than their own immediate superiors.]
[Sianor: And I bet they both have spy rings.]
[Ashroe: Hah! Eru probably started her first spy ring when she was still wet behind the ears.]
[Sianor: She's the kind to form a secret club, too. Like she'd form their own government structure. Cil would play along because he was so easy going, and Kre would be there just to make sure Eru behaved.]
[Ashroe: She starts grooming the palace staff to give her information in exchange for boons.]
[Sianor: Or the promise of future boons.]
[Ashroe: And Ail knows she's doing it, but he encourages it because she's learning the inter-personal skills needed.]
[Sianor: He probably staged mini mysteries for her to investigate!]
[Ashroe: Ah yes! And Kre would totally have gotten in on it. In fact, they all three of them did. Cil they used as innocent bait because he would just look so cute and they wouldn't tell him they were using him. He might figure it out, but he'd play along because he was a giant ball of fluff.]
[Sianor: I love that idea, that he'd build in special roleplays to make learning fun for them. And to cover up the fact that they were learning. Because if they decided to do it on their own then they were going to be more invested in it.]
[Ashroe: And we know for a fact that he had a very broad approach to educating his children. That's why Kre is all science chaplain on the show.]
[Sianor: I'd love a few more lines on the show about the culture specific things, like their education methods. I get that there will be more diversity now in the mingled, melting pot society schools, but there will be hold outs.]
[Ashroe: And how do schools work? Do Roq and Sianar attend the same schools? The same classes? Do they get forced to pair up? Or do they do it anyway much to the horror of their parents? Do Roq and Sianar teachers face discrimination?]
[Sianor: Even more awkward parent-teacher conferences when the Roq student sits with his parents and teacher barely making eye-contact, until he just loses his shit and tells them to grow up and everyone sits ashamed of themselves.]
[Ashroe: The awkward moment when little Johnny brings home his boyfriend and his parents thought they were being so progressive being all positive about his boyf—HE'S SCALY?]
[Sianor: Mom, Dad, we're in love.]
[Ashroe: Aww and then what if the kid gets upset and the mom is like IF YOU TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE GOT SALAD IN OH MY GOD I AM SUCH A BAD PARENT get your belt on we're going out for take out.]
[Sianor: <3 <3 <3 omg I need this in my life.]
[Ashroe: We ready for the nasty horrid evil things?]
[Sianor: I am always ready for nasty horrid evil things.]
[Sianor: I was BORN. READY.]
***
Chapter Eighteen – Mission: Confession
"We can arrest him. If we can get him."
"We can?" Vadim frowned. "Why?"
"We can... arrest him for... gross misconduct in Ur office," Ithon expanded, only slightly. "I will testify. It will only bring him in briefly, but it will be... enough to bring him in for questioning. And then for trial. There is a possible sentence attached to it, and we could make a case for him being a flight risk and refuse him bail. Then he'll either deny it and the Ur can look more closely into him, or... or he'll attempt to run, and thus prove his guilt."
"Misconduct in office?" Loap's nostrils flared in confusion. "It is still an offence. If you knew enough to convict on this before, why did you not act upon it at the time?"
"Because he'd implicate himself," Peters said, softly. Trust him to piece things together faster than everyone else. Always was the smart one, Ithon thought. "And he didn't want to risk losing his whole career."
Vadim's brown eyes were all over Ithon's face, and the Enforcer looked at the bulkhead to ignore them. It was bad enough admitting this as it was, without—
"You... and... you and Baudeline?"
"Yes. Me and Baudeline." Ithon's jaw was set, his expression so blank as to be robotic. He was beyond feeling. He was in that place after feeling, the one where you knew you should feel, but you couldn't. Like life was happening to someone else, or only part of you. His heart was steady, his mind half-whirling, half-still. "We try me. I confess. I would probably escape custody if I co-operated, though if we want to draw him out... we might need to use me as bait."
"Bait." Biann echoed the word, then shook her head. "Ain't that dangerous?"
"And Baudeline isn't?"
"Yeah, 'cisely why you'd be in danger," she sassed right back at him. Some part of him realised her accent got thicker when she was emotional. Sometimes it was barely there, other times it layered over everything she said. "What'n if he don't come after you?"
"I believe he would," Ithon replied, a little calmer. "It is worth a shot."
"I don't believe he knows I am still around," the Judge cut in. "I was more circumspect about my continued existence. I could come forwards as if I had been working independently all along. As if I had been examining Avery's past, and gathering evidence."
"You really think he buys you were dead?" The Captain frowned, arms folded over his chest. He now wasn't looking at Ithon at all. Which suited Ithon fine.
"I strongly suspect he thinks I did, indeed, die. And even if he does not, it is still conceivable that I have spent all this time investigating the corruption within the Hleen and the Bank."
"So you appear from the dead, get yourself reinstated in the annals of the living, and take me into custody." Ithon thought that through for a moment before nodding. "That could work."
"And we – what? We see who tries to intercept you – to kill you – and we ask them not to and try to prove Baudeline was behind it all?" Vadim was practically growling. "That's a terrible plan."
"So are all of our plans," Ithon scoffed. "I'm doing it. With, or without you. My stupid mistake landed me in this situation, my fear of losing my career let Baudeline walk. It's time I admitted it. I did break the rules and regs. A whole universe of people not in the Ur and I have to go and..."
The feelings were threatening to come to the fore, then, and he had to clamp them back down inside. Hard.
"You will likely never work as an Enforcer again," the Judge said, gently.
"I shouldn't have been, for all these years. I was a false official. One who had no right to serve," Ithon said.
"Ith—"
"It's alright. I've thought about it long and hard. I... want to do this. I want to put it right."
"Sleep on it?" Saidhe suggested. "One night. We can do the prep ready in case you still want to do it in the morning."
"Alright," he consented. "One night. But you – all of you – respect my decision. This guilt has walked with me for ten years. I need... I need to exorcise this demon."
"I don't agree with what you think there, natch," Vadim answered. "But, one thing I do know is that it's your decision. So... you want to do the thing? We'll do the thing. But we'll do it together."
"I think when we do do the thing, you're going to be kept forcibly away from me due to your role as a key character witness and very much not impartial third party."
"...trust you to make it literal."
***
The Judge saw Biann hovering, so he clucked his teeth and cocked his head for her to come in. She did, slinking to sit on the large, squishy cushion-seat he had for guests (or his feet).
"Thanks," she said.
"You've got questions, haven't you?"
"What gave it away?" she asked, smiling very faintly.
"You push your tongue into the left side of your mouth when you do," he told her. "It's a very blatant tell, if I'm being honest."
"I..." she tried thinking about it, and yes, it did feel familiar when she did it. "Wow. Okay. You really are super-observant!"
"I am paid to be."
"So you probably know what I want to ask about, right?"
"I have a very strong suspicion, yes."
"Is it wrong to want to know? I mean. I'm not asking for the details of his – you know. Just why it's bad?"
"It's not wrong for wanting to know context, no," the Judge reassured her with a soft smile. "You need to know why he's so upset. There are strict rules about relationships within the Ur. It mainly covers Enforcers and Judges. The other Ur staff can usually conduct relationships without an issue. But if an Enforcer or a Judge wishes to have a relationship with another Enforcer or Judge – no matter the combination – it has to be declared. And they have to be professionally removed from one another."
"Like... how?"
"Usually by posting them where there's absolutely no risk of jurisdictional overlap. In reality, it means such a great distance that the two would not be able to conduct a regular relationship. And it's also highly stigmatised. Even if it's technically possible, and emotionally likely, it's... frowned upon. There are also internal investigations into previous professional interactions and what some refer to as a 'Witch Hunt' and inquisition. Many questions, probing questions."
"And if they just... do it and don't tell anyone?"
"That counts as gross misconduct. Their professional career can no longer be trusted if they would lie about their emotional relationships. There really is a Witch Hunt. Into everything they've done. They are usually disgraced and thrown out of the Ur for life. If they only concealed it briefly – for a week or two – then that's an extenuating circumstance if they volunteer the information."
"But because Avery kept it hidden for ten years?"
"He's not getting out this."
"Would he really get... custody time?"
"In most circumstances, no. Just disgrace, loss of title, loss of pension and benefits. It would not prevent them taking a job as private security or detective work, but it would definitely be a shadow over their head. In extreme circumstances, it can lead to jail time. Especially as there are often other, concurrent issues. In this situation, we'll be making a public example of him. He'll also be pleading guilty to concealing Baudeline's criminal activity, which will mean the Ur will be forced to investigate Baudeline. And with it being so open, there will be intense scrutiny to ensure any wrong-doing is uncovered and not concealed by corrupt individuals."
"But what if Avery was lying? I mean, he ain't, but if he was?"
"It's sadly a risk we take. If there's a believable accusation of corruption the Ur publicly investigate. If they didn't, then no one would be able to trust us."
"But... but if he was lying?"
"Then there would later be a public apology towards the wronged party, and all sanctions on them would be lifted. But many choose to leave office, then. It's... it's difficult to face that kind of scrutiny."
"Don't seem fair on the people who got falsely accused," she said. "What if, like, someone did it to you?"
"Then I would rather be investigated to prove my innocent than someone who genuinely broke rules to get away with it. It's not just sexual liaisons that are handled like this. Other accusations of wrongdoing are, too. For instance: bribes, embezzlement."
"I guess. But if it's love... it's just hard for me to see why it's being punished?"
He reached out to pat her knee. "The love isn't being punished, the lie is. And if it settles your misgivings any, I think Ithon would have come forwards and had his career destroyed if he had signifi
cant evidence against Baudeline. But as he didn't, he likely wanted to close the book on that chapter of his life."
"I guess. So... he and the Cap'n? I mean, I know the Cap'n ain't Ur any more, but when they were Enforcers?"
"It would have been against regs, yes."
"Is that why he left?"
"If it was, don't you think they would have developed a relationship much sooner?"
"...yeah. I dunno."
"Why he left is... is private. If you want to know the answer to that, you need to ask him."
"Okay. Thanks for answering my questions," she said, bouncing up to her feet. "It really helps."
"Any time, child."
"I better go get us ready for leaving. We really gotta take him to Coriolis?"
"If we want to keep up the pretence, then yes."