As the Gravity Flipped

by Herschel K. Stroganoff

  Natsuki sipped her tea. "Thank you," she said. "This is a nice tea."

  Riko burped as she swallowed the final drops of milk. "Finished," she said tipping the empty glass upside-down. "I drank it all up with my mouth."

  "Careful Riko, you'll get drips everywhere," Natsuki said.

  Wynn walked over to a shelf and picked up a wooden ornament. "Do you know what this is?"

  Riko slipped from the sofa and ran over to Wynn.

  "A piggy!" Riko shouted, taking the ornament in her hands.

  "A piggy, that's right. And do you know what piggy's say?"

  Riko frowned and looked over at her mother. "I don't know," she mumbled.

  "They say 'oink, oink!"

  Riko giggled. "Oink, oink, oink. Piggy, pig, pig." She held the wooden pig up to Natsuki's face. "Look Mummy: a piggy!"

  Natsuki moved her head back to see. "That's lovely Riko. A bit too close to Mummy's face there. Why don't you play with it on the floor?"

  Natsuki watched in silence as Riko flopped onto the floor, then crawled with the pig in her hand. She turned as Wynn took a single seat then picked up his tea. "I saw you spoke to Akira Yamamoto," he said.

  She looked down and frowned. "I did," she said with a guarded tone.

  "Was that true? About the cleansing, I mean."

  Natsuki gave a slow nod.

  "That's awful," he whispered.

  "If they weren't going to let me cleanse him, they shouldn't have cleansed him at all. What Takeshi did--," Natsuki shuddered, "--it makes me feel sick."

  "I just don't understand what Ozu was thinking. What's the gain?"

  Natsuki shrugged. "To get to me, I presume. I'm not convinced Takeshi had nothing to do with it getting out to the media. You were there at Hayao's memorial. You saw what he was like."

  She looked down to Riko who was tapping her knee. "Mummy," she said. "Where's Daddy?"

  Natsuki clenched her jaw. "Daddy--," she forced a smile. "Daddy had to go away."

  "Can we see him?" Riko asked, still tapping Natsuki's knee.

  "Where did you put piggy?" Natsuki looked past her daughter to search for the ornament.

  "I don't want piggy, I want Daddy now I said." Riko pouted and threw herself into her mother's lap.

  Natsuki blinked as she tried to hold back tears. "I'm really struggling, Wynn," she said finally, her eyes pleading.

  # # #

  Ajay: The Coraygar, in region of Titan, Saturn

  02/07/6,544, 22:33 (IST)

  The Segrado clung barnacle-like to the side of the Coraygar as an air-lock whispered closed behind Ajay.

  "Azra, you look as radiant as ever," he said, stepping onto the Coraygar's main docking area.

  Azra Candemir was dark, lean and frowning. "Always full of charm Ajay, but you've got a lot of explaining to do since the last time you were here."

  She wore a simple black suit with captain's spots on the chest. Ajay smiled as he looked her up and down.

  "What did I do?" he asked, his voice sardonic and jovial.

  Azra folded her arms and gave Ajay an accusing look. "Ozu has declared war on us and you have become the Union's most wanted man. That's what."

  Ajay raked through his hair with his fingers, gave a half-smile, then shrugged his shoulders. "We've always been at war with United Solar and I'm a convenient face."

  "I worry about you," Azra said, shaking her head. "You could be in a lot of danger - we could all be in a lot of danger."

  "I'll be fine." Ajay waved a dismissive hand.

  Azra scowled. "I'm sure you will.".

  "That came out wrong. We will be fine."

  Ajay strode alongside Azra across the loading deck then through a black door. The daylight lamps cast thick shadows as they passed rows upon rows of wheat approaching harvest. Ajay felt the soft and bumpy ground beneath his boots and sniffed at the air. "I love that smell," he said. "So fresh."

  "The yield has been excellent this time," said Azra. "And what's more, we've got it so they are all self-replicating."

  Can we start to distribute the seeds?"

  "Yes. Can you believe Aghoro had the seeds all along? I'm hearing terrible things from across the Union - food shortages, failed crops - these are bad times."

  "It was your idea to get one of our people into Aghoro - we've liberated, what? Five, six more strains in the past three years."

  "Seven with the wheat. But there's still so much to do. Our main issue is fertilization. The solution we've come up with is to introduce bees to plants. It's not as efficient as using Aghoro drones, but we've started to see some very positive results."

  "The wheat is a big one," said Ajay. "What would you say - as big a breakthrough as chickens that can actually breed?"

  "If only United Solar saw the benefit," Azra sighed.

  "Of course they see - well, at least some of them do," said Ajay, stroking an ear of wheat. "The Affiliates lose profit if citizens can grow their own seeds or breed their own chickens. It stands to reason that they'd want to protect that."

  "And we're the bad guys," Azra shook her head. "I am worried about this war, Ajay. I'm not convinced it's bravado from the Secretary. And this thing with arming Affiliates seems ripe for disaster."

  "The Yao were always against armament. The Boeki too."

  Perhaps we could work with the Boeki?"

  Ajay laughed. "They're an Affiliate, why would--."

  "We have a common goal."

  Ajay pondered Azra's words as the pair ducked through the door to a stairwell and made their way up a level. His skin prickled as the temperature decreased. They walked through dim-lit corridors and passages, passing bunkrooms and bathrooms.

  "Are you going to say anything?" Azra asked as she keyed in the code for her personal quarters. They stepped inside.

  "Sorry," said Ajay. "I was just thinking about this Boeki idea - it could work."

  Azra slumped onto her bunk. Sitting beside her, Ajay rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward as he stared down at the grey floor. "I think it's going to be the armament of the Affiliates that will be our angle," he said.

  "One of our agents said the Boeki has agreed not to arm themselves."

  Ajay sat up. "Really?" He rose, then paced around the room. "This could work," he said. "It's one thing to say you're against something, but they're actually going to do that?"

  "I think we need to cut off the Molotok before it can expand. I've heard they've already ramped up their production of weapons."

  "This isn't a new thing - they've been making weapons for a long time. Affiliates on Mars and Lunar were armed within a day of the vote - if that's not suspicious--."

  "But not on this scale," Azra said. "They don't have to hide in the shadows anymore."

  Ajay sighed and sat back on the edge of the bunk. "I don't see the Boeki joining us to take out the Molotok," he said.

  "This is true, but I can see them refusing to distribute their goods, Maybe they'll refuse to transport machine parts. I can imagine them coming to that conclusion without our influence."

  "You're probably right," Ajay nodded. "But I'll do what I can to involve the Boeki - bring them round to our way of thinking."

  "Just don't do anything reckless. You're the Union's most wanted man, remember?"

  Ajay smiled and leaned down to kiss Azra.

  She shook her head. "Your quarters have been prepared," she said.

  Confused, Ajay regarded her for an instant and blinked, offering an invitation for Azra to explain herself. He looked on as she rolled over, pulling the bed sheet around her shoulders, curling her legs towards the wall.

  "Goodnight Ajay," she said.

  # # #

  Opposition leader found dead on capsule line

  Originally published by Lunar Chronicle, 02/04/6,539

  The body of Heiwa party leader and L1 Representative Shinsuke Otami was discovered during the early hours of this morning in a capsule travelling between Insularum and Vaporum.

  United S
olar officials are seeking witnesses following the discovery by a maintenance worker at approximately 03:15 (IST).

  Investigator Tshilidzi Dumi said Rep Otami had most likely taken a drug overdose or had been the victim of poisoning.

  He said: "Until the Examiner has carried out his work, it is too soon to say whether this was an act of misadventure or murder.

  "Our thoughts are with his mother and sister at this time."

  A memorial tea ceremony will be held at his family home on L1.

  # # #

  Chapter Nine

  Wynn: Boeki Guildhall, Vaporum 1, Lunar

  21/06/6,544, 08:00 (IST)

  "Ifan Walbeoff was a very dear friend to many of us," said Wynn, struggling with his words. "We came up together. Even at his age he insisted on working on the ships. It's such a pointless death."

  "Have we heard from his apprentice yet?" asked Boeki Chaplain Derec Rees. "Gethin, he's your boy isn't he?"

  Gethin Priddy held a stolid expression. "I've not heard from him. That's understandable with everything that's going on. I just hope United Solar can get him off V5 before the situation gets worse."

  "Garrett did send a message to us about Ifan overnight," said Wynn. "So I'm sure he's just fine."

  "They are a heartless lot those Muedin," said Derec, "absolutely heartless."

  "We've never had problems with Muedin before - at least not like this," said Wynn. "I mean, they watched poor Ifan die in the street in front of them - right on the doorstep of their centre. I don't care what anyone says, if you've got the means to help someone at their time of need and you refuse to help because they don't have the Sols. Well--," Wynn shook his head. "I'm so angry I could spit."

  "Muedin has gone too far and from what I've heard - and granted, this is only a rumour - I've heard that they're planning to move in on Yao operations. We need to distance ourselves from Muedin - have nothing to do with them whatsoever. They rely on us for some of their trade, but where were they when we needed on them?"

  "I'm not sure that is the right course of action," Derec said. "Cutting ties with Muedin would be devastating for the Union. Citizens rely on Muedin - rely on us. In all good conscience, we can't halt the distribution of medicines to mete out revenge against the Muedin. We owe more to our citizens than that."

  "Derec is right," said Gethin.

  "I didn't say we'd stop distributing medicines, I said we'd stop dealing with Muedin," said Wynn.

  The room fell silent as Wynn watched the members considered the implications of his words.

  "What are you saying Wynn?" asked Derec.

  "Look," said Wynn, "Muedin produce medicines, but they control the market - they control the product and the prices. They use the Judiciary to intimidate citizens, yet stand by as people die around them. Ifan was just one instance of a wider problem that has been entrenched for far too long, and it's something we can actually change.

  "I hear all the time about citizens in desperate need of drugs they can't afford. They have two options: they get more sick, or they buy from the Purdah. The drugs are the same, but because Muedin aren't the ones making the profits, they arrest the sick person. This is a complete abhorrence," Wynn squeezed his hands into fists.

  "So Derec, yes, part of my idea is as a direct result of what happened to Ifan, but it's something we've all seen, it's something we've all complained about, but it's something we've all allowed to go on.

  "It's the same with the Yao and Aghoro: the Yao's technology and research are beyond the rest of the Union, yet we've been blocked from taking advantage of them for so long that it's stifled our development - for all we know, we may have even slipped backwards.

  "Aghoro control our food - how do you think we'd cope if something happened to their seeds? We would all die, and there'd be nothing we can do about it except stand by and watch."

  Wynn paused as he regarded his fellow traders. "I'm proposing that we break the monopolies. We undermine Muedin and Aghoro and reach out to the Purdah. They aren't the terrorists Ozu would have us believe.

  "The more I find out about what they do, the more I agree with them. They are producing self-replicating seeds, affordable medicines and developing new computers and more advanced drones.

  "Perhaps if we work with them rather than propping up the current broken system, they'll stop stealing from us and bring the Union out of this stagnation."

  Derec shook his head, "Things aren't as bad as all that, surely. I understand that Ifan's death--."

  "This isn't about Ifan's death," said Wynn, his eyes wide. "Name one innovation in food, medicine, technology, transport - one innovation that has come about in any of our lifetimes."

  Wynn stared at Derec as the Boeki members exchanged glances and shrugs.

  "We are a stagnant species. Our population is falling and we've become so wrapped up in protecting the rights and interests of the Affiliates that we're slowly killing ourselves."

  Wynn smiled and clasped his hands. "I'm hopeful," he said. "We can do this."

  # # #

  Inge: Muedin Boardroom, Muedin Headquarters, Lunar

  28/06/6,544, 13:03 (IST)

  Inge glared at Tshilidzi. The Investigator had just scraped the legs of a seat from under her boardroom table without even asking her permission.

  "Please sit," said Tshilidzi. "This could take awhile."

  Inge poured a fruit water from a carafe into a glass then took a seat opposite Tshilidzi. She met his gaze unblinking as she tapped the surface of the oval table with her fingers.

  "I'd just like to say how much I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me," said Tshilidzi.

  Inge sipped her drink then turned the glass in her hand, watching the pink liquid as it swirled. "I have been busy," she said, placing the glass down.

  "I'm very sorry I had to force your hand on this meeting," he said. "I'm sure you'll be able to appreciate the seriousness of my investigation."

  "As I say, I've been very busy."

  "Can you tell me what you were doing on the sixth day of last month?"

  Inge shook her head. "I don't know what I was doing on an exact day so long ago."

  "It was the day of the Yao deaths - you're a Representative, that must have been memorable."

  She sipped her drink and rose to her feet. "I'm not sure what this has to do with anything," she said.

  "Please be seated, Madam Tomas. I need your full cooperation," Tshilidzi said with a firm voice.

  "I prefer to stand. My back has been aching."

  Tshilidzi raised his hands. "Okay. If you need to stand, you can do that."

  "Actually, I'll sit." Inge scraped her chair along the floor, then sat back down.

  Tshilidzi raised an eyebrow. "Are you happy to continue?"

  "Please. Go on," she said, her voice taking on a tone that was part amiable and part commanding.

  "The day of the Yao deaths."

  "I was here, doing vital work for the Muedin. It wouldn't be proper for me to tell you what I was working on - Affiliate privilege, you know. I heard about a death on the casino platform at first. Then the next day we were summoned to the Assembly."

  "That would be on the seventh?"

  "When I last checked seven did come after six," Inge said, her voice brimming with sarcasm.

  "Right." Tshilidzi wrote on his notes.

  Inge was pleased - she could tell she was getting under his skin.

  "This would be the meeting where Secretary Ozu made his first appearance at the Assembly to push through a motion you put forward?"

  "Is that a question?"

  "More an observation," said Tshilidzi.

  "I thought I was summoned by the Judiciary for you to ask me questions." Inge shook her head with agitation. "I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?"

  "Investigator Tshilidzi Dumi."

  "Silly Dummy, that's right. Mister Dummy--."

  "Dumi," Tshilidzi knitted his brow.

  "Mister Dumi," Inge sa
id, giving an innocent smile. " I really don't have time to listen to your musings and observations. Unless you have any genuine questions you need me to answer, then I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I've been incredibly cooperative, but this is completely unworkable."

  "Madam Tomas, please." Tshilidzi's tone was tinged with anger.

  Inge smiled when he clenched a fist into a ball then exhaled a sharp breath from his nose. She gestured with her hand for him to continue.

  "Did you have any prior knowledge of the Yao deaths?"

  "No."

  "Were you involved in a conspiracy to murder the Yaos?"

  Inge grimaced. "Absolutely not. This line of questioning is--." Inge cut her sentence short as Tshilidzi raised a silencing hand.

  "To the best of your knowledge, was Takeshi Ozu involved in a conspiracy?"

  "No."

  "When did you plan your motion on weapons?"

  Inge pursed her lips. She sipped her drink, then scratched behind her neck. The silence hung between them, thick and urgent.

  "When did you plan your motion on weapons?" he repeated, his voice growing louder.

  "I wouldn't call it so much a plan," Inge said, squirming.

  "When did you plan your motion on weapons?"

  "That is privileged information," she said.

  "When did you plan your motion on weapons?" Tshilidzi slammed a fist on the table.

  "Years ago," she spluttered. "We've had the motion waiting for the right moment."

  "Now we're getting somewhere. Thank you, Madam Tomas," Tshilidzi, leaned back taking on a relaxed demeanour as he wrote something in his notes. "You say you had nothing to do with the Yao deaths, so this was what? Opportunism?"

  Inga wrinkled her nose. "I wouldn't use that word, you make it sound so grubby. We saw an opportunity and we took advantage. Anyone would have done that same."

  Tshilidzi shook his head. "A family dies and the first thing you think about is how you can use it to further your interests."