Transmission Lost

by Stefan Mazzara

  They were all quiet after that for a while, until Jack was the first to speak. “Any more news?” he asked tentatively, a little afraid of breaking the silence but wildly curious about what was going on. Miri's head jerked up as she looked at the human, and for a minute he was afraid that she was going to explode at him for daring to ask a question. Then she seemed to calm down, recognizing that she was letting her emotions get the better of her.

  “None yet,” Miri replied. She sat up straighter, smoothing her emerald robes and attempting to look dignified again. “We were very lucky to get as much news as we did. Communications from Lirna have been severely disrupted, and our interspace military relays appear to have been tampered with. We're having difficulty in communicating with the fleets, and I suspect we'll have to wait until the fleets are in closer range before we can get more information. Arbaros is the designated fallback port, so survivors from the battle on Lirna will be coming here.” Looking at the tea again, she stood up abruptly and went to the door. Opening it a crack, she exchanged hushed words with someone just outside, then closed the door and returned to her seat. “I am afraid we will just have to be patient.”

  Aria growled softly. “Hate waiting,” she said. Jack reached over and put a hand on her thigh, squeezing it a little. She hadn't cried yet, but he could tell she was at the point where she might. The fur visible outside of the boundaries of her clothing was sticking up, and her ears were limp and flat, not perky and pointed as they should be. He had only seen her in this sort of mood a few times before: on the planet they'd crashed on, when she told him she'd likely be facing treason charges on her return home; on Lirna, when her youngest sister had been murdered; and again on Lirna, the night before her trial was to begin.

  “Is true?” Sami timidly asked. She was only in the room by accident, after all. The rest of her family had been shown to the quarters provided for them, and she had stayed behind to accept Li'ren's offer of a tour of the governess' residence.

  The grief passed over Governess Amani's face again, briefly, before she answered. “I am afraid it does appear to be true,” Miri said. “What little communication we have been able to receive confirms the initial reports on all counts. A combined fleet of Ara'lana's ships, Pteryd war cruisers, and human troop carriers attacked Lirna about eight hours ago. They were able to break the defensive lines and land soldiers on the planet's surface, and their first targets were Mat'aar Airbase and the royal palace. The Royal Guards put up a hard fight, but the palace was breached. From what we can tell, they did not even attempt to take Kri'a alive. This attack was an assassination, pure and simple, and now they control the planet as well.”

  Jack looked down at the floor. From what he had learned about Aria's mother, that kind of blitz attack seemed like her style for sure. He realized that they had been lucky to get off the planet when they did; if they'd been on Lirna when the attack had hit, surely they'd all be dead or captured by now. Ara'lana didn't seem to be the sort of person who liked leaving loose ends.

  “Um...Lady Amani?” Sami asked next. She looked between the governess and her sister. “How is she?”

  “How do you think?” Miri replied. The door opened, and Brooke came in, carrying another tray with fresh tea on it. She came over and placed the new tray on the table next to the old one. “Thank you, child. That will be all.” Brooke nodded silently, glanced at Jack for a brief moment, and then picked up the old tray and carried it out of the room. Miri passed cups around to everyone before she continued. “Li'ren and Kri'a were together for ten years. They loved each other very much, and they stuck together even when the gossip and ridicule was at its worst. Li'ren was devoted to the Empress.” She lifted her cup. “She's in her room. She came to before I left her. I still don't think it has sunk in for her, yet.”

  Jack cleared his throat. “I don't mean to be rude or anything, but...um...Should she be alone right now?” He gave Aria a sidelong look. “I mean, she's had an awful shock. Sadness and stress can do funny things to a person. You don't want her to do anything she's going to regret.”

  Though she was furious that Jack would bring that up, Aria nodded. “Is true what he say.”

  The governess looked as though she hadn't considered that until now, and she grew worried when Jack mentioned it. “Do you think so?” Miri looked towards the door, touching a hand to her chin. “Perhaps I should send someone to check on her. I could call one of the servants.”

  Sami stood up at once. “I...I go,” she volunteered. Everyone turned to look at her, and an embarrassed expression came to her face. “Is better than servant. Someone...someone she know.” The Ailian clasped her hands in front of her, waving her tail somewhat awkwardly.

  Miri eyed Aria's sister, and then she smiled just a little. “Alright. Thank you, I think you may be right.” The governess waved a hand towards the door. “The guard outside can show you the way. It will give me the chance to discuss some things with Captain Me'lia.” Bowing, Sami went to the door and walked out to the hall. The three left in the room could hear her footsteps on the carpeted floor, growing more distant as she was led away by one of the guards. Miri turned back to Jack and Aria when she was gone. “Captain, perhaps Jack should go as well. I can have someone conduct him to your family's quarters.”

  “No,” Aria said at once. She slid one arm around behind Jack's back, resting her hand on his other hip. “Jack stay.” While the governess gave her an odd look, her face stayed resolute. “I trust Jack. He help me many times. He deserve to stay.”

  Though she looked for a while as though she was going to disagree, Miri changed her mind. “Very well. If you believe he can be trusted, I will take your word for it. I wish to discuss with you the plans for security, Captain.” Her eyes flicked between Aria and Jack. “With Lirna lost, the seat of government will default to this planet. Outside of the homeworld, we have the largest military and diplomatic presence in the Ascendancy. That means that Arbaros is the next likely target for attack by the rebels. As governess of the planet, my job will be to keep the government together until the question of leadership can be sorted out.”

  “Yes,” Aria agreed. She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. “With Empress gone, will be trouble.”

  “Indeed, but you needn't worry about that,” Miri assured her. “That's not what I want to talk about. What I am worried about is keeping my daughter safe. Kri'a appointed you to the Royal Guards for a reason, and that reason has not changed. Li'ren is still one of the highest-ranking diplomats in the Ascendancy. As consort to the Empress, she knows a great deal about defense and political matters. Ara'lana will want to deny us that expertise, and I believe she will do her best to make an attempt on my daughter's life.”

  Jack leaned forward. “You don't think she'd try to kidnap her? If Li'ren knows that much, wouldn't Aria's mother just take her alive so she can learn what she knows?”

  Miri shook her head, raising her tea cup and taking a sip. “No. Ara'lana already knows much of what Li'ren does. It would be much easier and just as effective for her to just kill her.” She put her cup down and stared at Aria. “That is why you are here, Captain. You are one of the last of the Royal Guards. Your orders from the Empress still stand. The best soldiers to be found on Arbaros have been selected, and we also have the few Guards that Kri'a sent here. Allow the fleets to worry about the security of the planet, Aria, I want you to be concerned with the security of Li'ren.”

  “I do that,” Aria promised solemnly. “I give Empress my oath. She safe with me here.”

  “Good. I want you to start your preparations tomorrow. Let me tell you what resources we have...”

  ******

  The guard led Sami from the greeting room, taking her through a series of halls which led deeper into the governess' residence. The Ailian found herself overwhelmed by the size of the place, which was much larger than her family's mansion back on Lirna, and Sami had considered that quite a large home. Yet she was also impressed by how simply yet elegantly
it was adorned. Like many Ailian government buildings, the walls were lined with detailed paintings, but apart from that the home was very plain. The same as the entrance hall through which they had been brought, the walls were of white stone and the carpets were a deep, dark royal blue. Sami wasn't quite astounded enough to totally forget everything that had happened today, but the distraction was enough to help her calm down.

  Finally, they arrived at a door at the end of one hall. The guard gave Sami a perfunctory bow, then took his leave and returned back the way he came. Sami watched him go, her ears pricking forward in minor annoyance at the guard's attitude. Then she turned back to the door, taking a preparatory breath before raising a hand and knocking gently. She waited for several minutes, but there was no answer from within.

  Sami placed her ear against the door, listening. -Lady Amani?- she called. Sami knocked again, but she still didn't receive an answer. Reaching for the door handle, she turned it, finding the door unlocked. She wasn't sure if she should really intrude like this, but she pushed the door open anyway and looked inside.

  The room inside was as simple as the rest of the governess' home. From the doorway, Sami could see a large, round bed, and a low table set in the middle of the room surrounded by several plush chairs of the same color as the carpets. On the far side of the room from the door was a large window which looked out onto the trees upon which the building was constructed. There was another table sitting in front of the window, and in a chair next to the table sat Li'ren. The noblewoman had something in her hand that she seemed to be staring at, but what it was Sami couldn't tell from where she was standing.

  Stepping fully into the room, Sami closed the door quietly behind her and walked up behind Li'ren. -Lady Amani?- she repeated, when she was a meter or so away from the other woman. She saw Li'ren's shoulders jerk in shock, and her tail gave a twitch of alarm as she looked behind her. When she saw who was speaking, she seemed to relax just a bit.

  -Oh...,- Li'ren said, blankly. -Sami. I did not hear the door.- She turned her eyes back to the object she was holding. Now that Sami was closer, it looked like a photograph.

  -Forgive me, m'lady,- Sami apologized. -I didn't mean to intrude. The governess thought someone should come check on you.-

  Li'ren gave a quiet sigh, sinking a little lower in the chair. Her tail was hanging limp down to the floor, and her fur was laying flat and expressionless. -Thank you,- she said, not taking her eyes off of the photograph in her hands. -I am fine.-

  Sami peeked over her shoulder, curious about the picture. The photograph was of two Ailians, sitting on a low garden wall near a fountain. Their tails met between them, twisted around each other. One of them, dressed in white robes and shorter than the other, was Li'ren herself. The other was dressed in a sharply tailored admiral's uniform, looking right at the photographer with a smile that mirrored Li'ren's. For a few seconds she couldn't tell who it was, but then she recognized the face.

  -That's you and the Empress, isn't it?- she asked, pointing at the picture. -And is that the palace?-

  Looking up for a moment, Li'ren blinked at Sami, then she looked back at the picture. -Yes.- Her voice was hoarse. -This was one of the first pictures we ever took together, after our relationship became known. She was still just the princess when this picture was taken. I was...eighteen, I think, just starting as a formal diplomat.- Li'ren gave just the faintest hint of a smile, which quickly disappeared. -This spot in the gardens was always our favorite. We'd go there whenever we wanted to be alone for some fresh air. I still remember the first time we sat there together, the first time she ever called me 'my little one'...-

  Sami took a while in responding. She didn't quite know what to say. Sami had lost loved ones before, but from what her father had gone through she knew that losing a mate was a much different sort of grief. -She is very beautiful,- Sami finally said.

  -She is,- Li'ren agreed. She touched one finger to the Empress' image in the photograph, smiling for a second. Her hand began to shake, and she dropped the photograph on the table. Her shoulders trembling, she began to cry, tears pouring down her cheeks as she cupped her face in her hands. -Oh, Kri'a...-

  For a while Sami was frozen with uncertainty, not sure if anything she said would be comforting or just make things worse. Li'ren seemed inconsolable, sobbing loudly as she sat in front of the window. Instead of talking, she decided to stay quiet. She knelt next to the noblewoman's chair and placed a hand on one of her knees, putting her other arm around her waist. While Li'ren cried, she just stayed there, letting her lean on her shoulder. That was all that she knew to do, but it seemed to be enough. She felt one of Li'ren's hands on hers, squeezing tightly. Eventually, her crying grew quieter, trailing off into soft gasps and sniffing.

  -I'm so sorry,- Li'ren said, straightening up in her chair. She wiped her muzzle with her hands, swiping away the tears that were soaking her fur. -I didn't mean to break down like that. I'm sorry.-

  -Don't apologize, m'lady,- Sami gently rebuked her. -You have every right to cry. You loved her.- She gripped the other female's hand. -I'm sorry for your loss. May she find peace under the watch of the goddess.-

  Li'ren managed to smile at her. -Thank you. That means so much for me to hear.- She took a few deep breaths. -I will be alright, but I would like some time away from...from all of that.- She waved a hand vaguely at the door.

  Sami got to her feet. -Could I call someone to bring something for you? Tea, maybe? Perhaps you would allow me to stay here with you.- She smiled. -I would love to know more about the Empress. Would you be willing to tell me about her?-

  After thinking about it briefly, Li'ren gave a little nod. -I think I would like that.- She brightened a touch more. -There is a comm unit on the wall by the door. Ask for the kitchen, and they can send something up. Something hot to drink, I think, would be very nice indeed.-

  ******

  Several days had passed since the attack on Lirna, and finally the fleets had begun arriving at Arbaros en masse. In that time span, Jack found that the governess' residence seemed to fill with military officers at times, bustling here and there attending meetings with diplomats and their own colleagues. He tried to stay out of their way. Whenever he encountered them, he was met with either hostility or blunt dismissal, neither of which he found very appealing. So mostly he kept to the wing of living quarters that had been set aside for the Me'lia family, either staying in his room or spending time with Aria when she was off duty.

  Aria's off duty times seemed to be few and far between these days. The day after they'd arrived on Arbaros, she'd woken up early and left to begin her work as the leader of the Royal Guard. Their name seemed to be a misnomer now, since there was no Empress left to protect, but Aria seemed determined to fulfill her promise to the Empress and keep Li'ren safe from anyone who would wish her harm. To that end, she was taking her duties very seriously. The governess' residence was placed on lockdown, with the black-clad, black-furred Guards placed at every entrance. Aria kept the original Guards, sent from Lirna by the late Empress, on the inside of the palace in close proximity to the governess and Li'ren.

  Jack had gotten quite the shock of his life on the first evening after her duties began. He'd been in the room that they shared, getting ready for bed, when a completely black-furred Ailian female had walked in without knocking. For a few minutes, Jack was terrified, but then he saw those familiar yellow-gold eyes looking at him, and he realized it was Aria. She had told him this was coming, after all; the Royal Guards, all of them, wore their fur black to present a uniform image. The first thing that she did when she came to him that night was gush apologies for the way she looked. She'd actually been afraid that he wouldn't find her attractive anymore with her fur a different color, but he'd demonstrated how wrong she'd been most vigorously and effectively in the hours that followed.

  Even though her duties took up a lot of her time, Aria still did her best to set aside time to spend with Jack. Now that she was certain that her family
was a viable target for her mother, most of all Jack, she had taken to trying to teach him Ailian self-defense again. She'd already attempted it before, when they were on Lirna, but had called it off because it had proved too intense for him. Now she was at it again, but she held herself back to account for his smaller size. Jack found the workouts fairly interesting. He'd had his share of hand-to-hand combat training when he was in the military, but Ailian self-defense was a little different. Instead of the joint locks and throws that human martial arts relied on, the Ailian style focused on ground combat and punishing body and face strikes. Aria went easy on Jack, but he still left each little training session with a few bruises and claw scratches. He managed to give Aria a few bruises of her own, though, and every time he landed a hard blow on her, he'd see a grin of pride on her face and a glint in her eye. He got the feeling that it actually turned her on.

  Aria's family was growing more used to being on Arbaros, even though they still missed their familiar home on Lirna. When the news about the loss of the planet had arrived, they'd taken it with a certain amount of sadness, knowing it meant that their home might be gone forever. But the governess' residence was spacious, and the wing that they had been provided with was quite comfortable. Even Aria's father, who had been the most against their move, had to eventually admit that it wasn't as bad as it could be. Though a sizable portion of his business had been cut off due to the rebel takeover, he was still able to manage the remaining portions from Arbaros. Sami was enjoying herself as well. After the first day, she had taken it upon herself to keep Li'ren in as high spirits as possible considering the circumstances. The two of them were fast developing a friendship, and Aria's sister spent an increasing amount of time with the noblewoman, listening to stories about the Empress and life in the palace.