Seven Sisters

by Eileen Troemel

  “The government, the people, and the heads of the corps,” Teryl said. “I’ve heard grumbling.”

  “I’ve got some tough questions for them,” Donna said. “When have you known me to do a puff piece?”

  “Never,” Teryl said grinning. “Planning to blindside them?”

  “I’ll ask blunt questions,” Donna said.

  ***

  “What is wrong,” Mycos asked as he rubbed his hands down her shoulders.

  “I’m not sure letting her interview Nic and Heidi is a good idea,” Lydia said as she leaned into Mycos. “I don’t know how well they’ll handle her questions.”

  “We will be there for them,” Mycos said. “Do you want to pull the interview?”

  “Don’t even,” Nic said from the door. “Heidi and I can handle this.”

  “You don’t know what she’ll ask you,” Lydia said. She held out her hand.

  Nic stepped into the room, squeezed Lydia’s hand. “She’s gonna ask why we were on the street and how we’re being treated. If she gets bitchy, we stay calm. We tell the truth and we keep calm.”

  “I don’t want her to upset you,” Lydia said.

  “Heidi and I have a plan,” Nic said. “She’s watched a lot of interviews and if she doesn’t like a question, she’ll look at me. We’ve been practicing non-answers. Heidi’s pretty good at it. I promise not to lose my temper on camera.”

  “We will be right there,” Mycos said. “Gregor is quite concerned. He will watch.”

  “You two are up after,” Nic said. “Make sure you do the googlie face at each other. It makes the audience more receptive.”

  “Googlie face,” Mycos asked.

  “You know the - you are my life - look,” Nic said smiling. “The one you get when you don’t think others are around.”

  “It doesn’t matter who’s around,” Heidi said. “It takes like thirty seconds and they get it.”

  “Did you come here alone,” Mycos asked.

  “No, Manere brought me,” Heidi said smiling. “He’s helping me with some strategies.”

  “We’re right before them,” Nic said putting her arm around Heidi’s shoulders. “None of the other kids are coming here, right?”

  “No,” Mycos said. “Abby has been more nervous.”

  “The soldiers are still new,” Lydia said.

  “She’s not having problems sleeping,” Heidi said. “She’s been talking a lot to Defur about families.”

  “Maybe we should spend more time with her,” Mycos said frowning.

  “We’ll check on her when we get home,” Lydia said.

  “Excuse me,” Teryl said knocking on the open door.

  “Hello,” Nic said.

  “Lord Mycos, Lady Lydia,” Teryl said nodding to them. “We need Nic and Heidi for the interview.”

  “We’re coming,” Lydia said.

  “This is quite the location,” Teryl said as they followed him out of the office. “This part of your compound?”

  “It is a refuge,” Mycos said. “But it is part of our compound, granted to us by the Premier.”

  “Why,” Teryl asked.

  “There's a lot of violence in this neighborhood,” Lydia said. “Those with nothing need a safe haven.”

  “We'll have the two girls first, and then you’ll both go out together,” Teryl said. “

  “Thank you,” Lydia said.

  In one of the small lounges, Donna waited for them reviewing notes. She looked up to see the couple arrive with several bodyguards. Smiling she stood to greet them. “I’m really glad we’re doing this,” Donna said. “How do you like what we’ve done so far?”

  “You have been equitable,” Myco said feeling the tension in Lydia, his protective nature making him more abrupt then normal. “Do you plan to grill the girls?”

  “I don’t generally grill minors,” Donna said raising her eyebrow at his tone.

  “He’s worried because I’m worried,” Lydia said. Out of view of the camera, she took a seat, tugging Mycos onto the loveseat with her. “He doesn’t want the girls upset.”

  “Very parental,” Donna said thinking it was either really sweet or overprotective.

  “Why not,” Nic said. “That’s essentially what they are.” She sat in the chair Teryl indicated. Heidi sat next to her. Nic gave Heidi's hand a quick squeeze.

  “But you consider Lydia your sister,” Donna asked noting the silent reassurance.

  “Yes,” Nic said.

  “I’m looking forward to our interview,” Donna said. “It’s always good to have intelligent guests.”

  “Two minutes,” Tyrel said.

  The camera person set up the camera got the three of them in the shot. Teryl counted down and at ten he held up fingers.

  "We're back now with Nicole Hunter and Heidi Streit," Donna said looking into the camera. "These are the two older girls who are under the guardianship of Lord Mycos and Lady Lydia. Welcome to my show. Thank you for joining me."

  "Thank you for having us," Heidi said softly.

  "Can you tell me your ages," Donna asked.

  "I'm sixteen," Nic said. "Just turned sixteen."

  "I'm thirteen," Heidi said. She sat with her hands in her lap and looked directly at Donna. She trembled when she looked at the camera.

  "Nicole," Donna said.

  "Nobody calls me Nicole," she said. "Make it Nic."

  "Because Nic is a boy's name and draws less attention than an obviously female name," Donna asked.

  "To start with," Nic said. "I like it. Short and to the point."

  "Like her," Heidi said smiling.

  "What about you," Donna asked.

  "No way to shorten Heidi and make it sound like a boy," Heidi said. "It's better to stay hidden."

  "How long were each of you on the street," Donna asked.

  "A little over three years," Nic said.

  "It was two years for me," Heidi said.

  "Nic, tell me what caused you to be on the streets," Donna asked.

  "My parents didn't believe in vaccines," Nic said thinking back. "I don't know why I just remember them refusing to get the vaccine for the plague. They died. I heard horrible things about what happened to girls in foster so I packed up and left our place."

  "How long were you on the street before you connected with Lydia," Donna asked.

  "A few weeks," Nic said goosebumps rising on her arms as she remembered how hard it had been.

  "The two of you were together for a while," Donna asked.

  "Three or four months," Nic said.

  "I'm not the police," Donna said. "I promise none of this will cause problems. Tell me what it was like."

  "Before Lyd, horrible," Nic said. "I had to find somewhere safe to hide so I could sleep. There wasn't anywhere out of the rain or cold. People avoided you which was okay, but food was scarce and safety non-existent."

  "Was it the same for you, Heidi," Donna asked.

  "Yes," Heidi said. "Lydia chased off some boys who were trying to drag me back to their gang. I didn't want to go and she helped me."

  "Why were you on the streets," Donna asked.

  "My aunt," Heidi said reaching for Nic, gripped her hands. "My aunt had a few of her own kids and they were always mean to me. We lived in a two bedroom apartment. She told me if I couldn't get along, I should leave. My cousins made me do their chores, made me their slave. If I didn't do what they said, they wouldn't let me eat. I punched my older cousin when he grabbed me. He wanted… and I didn't. I gave him a split lip and a black eye but he stopped." Mycos hearing this for the first time clenched his fists, anger boiling in him. Lydia covered his hand with hers.

  "How did your aunt react," Donna asked.

  "She kicked me out," Heidi said. "She said I was a spoiled brat and I should see what it was like to fend for myself. I was on the streets only a few days when some boys tried to drag me into an alley they controlled. Lydia helped me get away."

  "Do you know where your family is now," Donna ask
ed.

  "I don't want to know," Heidi said looking beyond Donna to meet Lydia's eyes. "My family is made up of my six sisters and now Mycos and his men."

  "How are you treated in Lord Mycos' household," Donna asked.

  "Good," Heidi grinned. "No one hurts us. We eat three meals but if we're hungry in between meals, cook gives us snacks."

  "If you're looking for us to confess to abuse, it's not happening," Nic said bluntly. "We learn all sorts of things using the Hylatian programming. It's better with them than on the streets. Hell, it's better with them than most of the girls had at home before the plague."

  Donna smiled at the blunt answer. "You're annoyed," she said.

  "Yeah," Nic said. "I'm tired of everyone trying to decide what's best for us. I mean, get real. Nobody cared before we got hooked up with Mycos and his lot. These are good men with good intentions but everyone has to be suspicious. Get real. The movies about aliens aren't real. We have confirmation there is life out there. People need to stop being stupid and deal."

  "Do all of you feel the same," Donna asked.

  "We do," Heidi said. "They're good to us. They protect us. They're family now."

  "Have you been given to men," Donna asked the harder question.

  "Do you mean sexually," Nic said. She snorted. "Not hardly. They’re careful with us. Even when we do self-defense training, they’re careful with us."

  "They tend us," Heidi said. "Lyd has to keep the men from spoiling us. They’d let us get away with all sorts of stuff but Lyd reminds them we need boundaries."

  “She’s your sister and she protects you,” Donna asked.

  "She's stricter than they are," Heidi said nodding. "The men help us with our homework and training and all sorts of stuff."

  "Mycos says she's a lot like the women on his worlds," Nic said.

  "Have any men claimed you as mates," Donna asked.

  "No," Heidi and Nic said together laughing.

  Donna looked at the camera and threw them out to commercial. Turning to the girls, she said, "Thank you. You did very well."

  Nick and Heidi looked at Lydia and Mycos as they stood to take their places.

  ***

  “I thought she was our friend,” Lydia said as she paced in Sally’s office.

  “She asked some difficult questions,” Mycos said. “Maybe she needed to.”

  “It was almost like she wanted to tear down everything we’re doing,” Lydia said. “Maybe I’m just naïve, like the Premier said.”

  A knock interrupted them. Sally stepped into her office. She asked, “How are you doing?”

  Lydia stopped pacing behind Mycos and put her hands on his shoulders. “I think this was a mistake,” she said. “If she puts all this negative stuff out there…”

  Gregor closed the door behind them. “She did ask some very difficult questions,” he said.

  “But you handled them, mo chroin,” Mycos said pulling her to sit on his lap.

  “She did ask tough questions but I think she needed to,” Sally said.

  “What do you mean,” Lydia asked.

  “She made you defend your plans,” Sally said. “She made you say why it was important to get the contracts. You’re biased. You have an intimate relationship with the alien invaders.” Her eyes widened and she made a fake scared face.

  “You were passionate,” Mycos said. “I was moved when you spoke about all the children who suffered as orphans on the street.”

  “It showed,” Gregor said. “Your admiration, milord, for her showed.”

  “You were honest,” Sally said. “Mycos you said you had the power to help and Lydia had the ideas of how to help.”

  “You think even though they were tough questions, it isn’t bad,” Lydia asked.

  “If she did a light piece with only praise, the critics could come back to say their issues weren’t addressed,” Sally said.

  “By her asking the difficult questions and putting you on the spot, the critics cannot be harsh with their response,” Gregor said.

  Mycos tucked her hair behind her ear. He watched as she considered. “What do you think,” Mycos asked.

  “Maybe,” Lydia said. “It’s so important. I …”

  “What did you tell me,” Sally said.

  “When,” Gregor asked.

  “I was unsure if I was doing enough for us,” Sally said blushing.

  “I told her to take one step at a time and talk to you,” Lydia said.

  “How wise,” Mycos said. “And you said you weren’t ready to be on the high counsel.”

  ***

  Morgan took the seat across from the Premier. She waited as the Premier finished a call.

  “Yes,” the premier said. “As planned. Yes.”

  Morgan put her hands in her lap and waited. After several more ‘yes’ answers, Premier Rivera hung up. “What do you think the committee decided,” she asked.

  “They’re getting pressure from their constituents to make the deal,” Morgan said keeping her tone neutral.

  “The Hylatians PR is working well,” Premier Rivera said. “Do we know who they’re using?”

  “I believe in the case of the healing devices, they got a boost from Lydia being directly related to the vaccine for the plague,” Morgan said. “Other than that I don’t believe they use any company or team.”

  “Well placed,” Premier Rivera said. “How soon before you call for a vote?”

  “Soon,” Morgan said. “A week to ten days at the most.”

  “Good,” Premier Rivera said. “Make sure we get manufacturing rights.”

  “So it will boost our economy,” Morgan asked.

  “Of course,” Premier Rivera said but her tone and facial expression belied her words.

  “Because you want a closer look at their technology,” Morgan asked.

  Premier Rivera smiled, lifted her drink to her lips and sipped. “Just as the aliens have their agenda, we have our own agenda.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Morgan said keeping her face neutral.

  Chapter 7

  “Can I go to bed,” Abby asked sliding to the edge of her chair.

  “Don’t you want dessert,” Lydia asked concerned.

  “I’m listening to a story through the programs,” Abby said. “I wanna hear the end.”

  “What story,” Mycos asked as he picked her up to hug her before she went to bed.

  “It’s bout Elnor the seer,” Abby said. “She’s interesting. Can your seers really see the future?”

  “I went to our current seer. She told me to come here,” Mycos said.

  “Wish I coulda seen a seer,” Abby said. “I woulda known my mama and dad would be mean.”

  “Oh my defur,” Mycos hugged her close. “But now it is better, is it not?”

  “I have all of you,” Abby said. She gave him a kiss on the lips and slid off his lap and waved to the room as she wandered back to her room.

  “Kid knows how to steal the room,” Nic said. “Now about the results.”

  “Our approval rating is up,” Sally said.

  “While some of the comments on the program were not pleasant,” Gregor scowled as he recalled reading some of them. “The overwhelming sentiment was the government needs to embrace what we have.”

  “It looks like the PR is working,” Lydia said as she toyed with her fork. “Justinian what was the final head count for those we helped?”

  “We helped nine hundred seventy-three,” Justinian said. “With one exception.”

  “One exception,” Mycos asked.

  Justinian shared about the spoiled boy. Mycos asked, “Are you saying this boy threw fits when he did not get his way?”

  “It’s not uncommon,” Sally said. “We see it when there’s an imbalance in the parenting.”

  “Kids need boundaries,” Nic said. “Like Lydia’s always saying.”

  “Yes but when you have one who is always spoiling and one who is a disciplinarian or absent, you get an imbalance,” Sally said. “T
he boy figured out his mother gave in to his demands because she worried he was dying.”

  “Sneaky bastard,” Nic said.

  “Nic,” Landros scolded, his hand covered hers.

  “How did all of you turn out so well,” Nic asked. “I mean seriously. You all come from different clans and you used to pummel each other. What changed?”

  “Males and females changed roles to some extent,” Lydia said answering before one of the Hylatians did. “Around the time of your last war, the matriarchs of the families were tired of the wars. They stepped in and put a stop to it.”

  “How,” Sally asked. The men around the table listened to Lydia tell the stories of their own worlds. They nodded in agreement as she spoke about their history.

  “One woman wrote in her journal, she refused to send the food to the warriors. Her husband became irate but she insisted he bring his warriors home to protect their property rather than meet other clans on the battlefield,” Lydia said. “She wasn’t the only one. All the matriarchs stopped allowing supplies and funds to go toward war. Apparently the men got together for meetings and would imbibe vocatus and start fighting. These drunken fights would escalate until it became a war.”

  “Vocatus is an alcohol made from one of our root vegetables,” Mycos said. “It is highly intoxicating.”

  “The women stepped in and overruled their mates,” Lydia said. She smiled, mischief in her eyes. “Apparently the men would bluster and complain but ultimately they let the females decide. It took about a hundred years for the rule of the planets to shift from male to female controlled.”

  “You’ve studied their history,” Sally said. “You’ll have to show me this. I want to learn more.”

  “Where are we with deployment,” Mycos asked.

  “We have doubled our forces,” Gregor said. “More than doubled. We bring more men down with each delivery.”

  “Are they mixing,” Nic asked.

  “We have one small ship nearly ready to return,” Gregor said.

  “When you say small ship,” Sally asked. “How many are onboard?”

  “Five hundred and thirty two of our men,” Landros said. “They each have a mate with belongings and some of the mates have children.”