Remus kept one hand pinned behind her back, furiously moving behind her as her other hand reached back to hold his hip, keeping him close, quietly urging him to continue.
Between that moment and the moment that Remus collapsed on top of her, gently kissing the shell of her ear, Isa felt herself slip further into darkness.
Isa sat in her NCB chair, trying to concentrate, but she could not focus. The situation with Saera was the main focus of the day, but every time she got new information on what had been found at the site, she felt herself cringe in pain.
She was responsible.
Finally, she turned off the NCB chair and sat upright, cradling her pounding head in her hands.
She was beginning to feel desperate.
A beeping in her ear caused her body to tense quickly. The automatic voice listed the number and she felt sick to her stomach. Slowly, she reached up and pressed the area in front of her ear to activate her phone.
“Yes?”
“I have to express my admiration for you,” Colonel Amori chuckled. “Not only did you decide to destroy Saera, but you seem to be destroying your Syndicate without my help.”
“Is there a reason you called other than to taunt me?”
“Oh, you are tired today, aren’t you?” the Colonel laughed. “Also, I will say how impressed I was at your display last night.”
Isa’s eyes shot wide, confused and worried.
“You certainly are a capable woman,” the Colonel leered. “You can take quite a bit of abuse. It’s impressive, to say the least.”
Isa ground her teeth together.
“I can tell that I’ve underestimated how much you can take,” he said, his voice dripping with disgust. “So let’s see how much more you can take, Elite Isa.”
“What are you talking about?” Isa demanded, fear coiling around her chest.
“Perhaps you should see what is going on with the other Elites.”
Isa’s fear doubled, images flashing through her mind of the Elites storming into her office with the intent to kill her. She scrambled out of the chair, the Colonel’s sick laugh cutting short as he hung up. She went to the door and opened it just as another Elite called her phone.
“Isa!” Maki said quickly. “You better get to the control room. The Officials are here to arrest Remus.”
Isa’s vision narrowed, her mind repeating the words over and over again.
She ran down the stairs to the main control room and darted in just as the Officials were turning the Silver Elite around and restraining him.
“What is going on here?” Isa barked.
“Elite Isa,” one officer said, approaching her. “We are instructed to take you to the hospital immediately.”
“The hospital? What are you talking about? Why?” Isa demanded, backing away from him as he approached. “Under what charges are you arresting him?”
“It is best not to discuss it here,” the Officer said, glancing at the other Elites in the room.
“You are placing my Silver Elite under arrest, and I demand to know under what charges Venus has ordered this.”
The Officer sighed, glancing around once more before lowering his voice.
“Elite Remus has been charged with rape of the Golden Elite.”
“What?” Isa barked, her brow furrowing, though her eyes had gone wide. “That’s preposterous!”
“There is evidence,” he said carefully. “Video evidence.”
Isa was silent, staring at the Officials in surprise. She turned to the other Elites in the room, who had heard the charges and were looking between their two superiors worriedly. Isa glanced at Remus, who stared back at her, confused.
“I will discuss this with Venus,” Isa said sharply. “Release him at once.”
“Elite Isa, I follow Venus’ orders. I must arrest him. You may discuss this with Venus and, if the charge is removed, we will immediately release him. But you must be seen by your doctor at once.”
“I have no need to see a doctor,” she snapped. “I am fine.”
“Venus insists that you have a medical exam and have a medical professional determine the damage,” he said. He glanced around once more and then lowered his voice. “Elite Isa, if I may be so bold, if these charges are not unfounded, do not fight for him to be released.”
“Be quiet,” Isa hissed. “I will go to my doctor at once.”
She left the confused Bronze Elites in the control room as Remus was hauled away, discreetly being taken through the emergency stairs to the garage so rumors would not spread about the Silver Elite’s arrest.
Isa was guided by the Officials to the hospital and into a room where Dr. Busen was waiting. He nodded to the Officials to leave the room. They filed out and closed the door behind them.
“Dr. Busen, there has been a misunderstanding,” Isa said quickly.
“Has there?”
She swallowed hard, hesitating.
“Venus sent me the security footage,” Dr. Busen said. “You do know that it can still be considered rape even if you are in a relationship with your assailant, yes?”
“It was not rape, I consented,” she said sharply. “I am not lying, Michael.”
The doctor sighed heavily and motioned for her to walk to the exam table.
“Isa,” he started as she sat down, “is there something that you want to tell me?”
“You, too?” Isa asked with an exasperated sigh. “Dr. Busen, only a few days ago, the largest production area for this planet’s food was destroyed. I have been overworked and stressed. I’m sure things looked bad on the footage, but I was consenting and I want my Silver Elite released.”
“I’m not talking about last night,” Dr. Busen said. “I’m talking about your health in general. I can tell just by looking at you that you have lost a considerable amount of weight, and you look ill.”
“I’m fine.”
“I would like to do an exam.”
“You do not have my permission to do so,” Isa said sharply. Dr. Busen straightened, blinking in surprise.
“Why not?”
“You don’t need to question why,” Isa told him, her eyes dark. “You do not have my permission. It is mine to give for whatever reason I choose.”
Dr. Busen stared at the Golden Elite. He was more worried than before.
“I have been ordered by Venus to perform vaginal inspection to determine the severity of—”
“It was not rape.”
“I understand that,” Dr. Busen said.
“Then put that in the report and tell her to release my Silver Elite.”
“Isa—”
“What?”
Dr. Busen sighed heavily, briefly pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I’m calling Paul, this is beyond my level of expertise.”
Isa ground her teeth together.
“What does that mean?”
“Something is wrong, and I am not skilled enough to get it out of you,” the doctor said.
“I told you what was wrong,” she said. “I’ve been overworked and stressed. It happens. I have to lead a fucking planet, it can be a little stressful at times.”
Dr. Busen stared at Isa for several long moments, trying to let the silence get too heavy for the Golden Elite. However, Isa did not back down, staring back at him with the same intensity.
“I will have to put in my report that there is evidence of sexual intercourse due to the security footage, but no damage to indicate rape,” Dr. Busen said quietly. “She will still have him punished.”
“I will handle Venus,” Isa said, standing. “You just file your report and leave the rest to me.”
“Isa,” Dr. Busen said, starting after her. She did not turn around, leaving the room. “Isa!”
The Golden Elite left, not once looking back at the worried doctor.
Isa went directly to the jail to pick up Remus only one hour after she left the hospital. Her mind was sharply focused on the task. She already knew how the day was going to
go. She knew she had to find a way to protect Remus from Colonel Amori, and that meant keeping him at a distance.
Remus tried to get Isa to tell him what happened, but she only told him that Venus had ordered his arrest because she believed he raped her due to the security footage in her mainframe of the previous night.
“We took care of that years ago,” Remus hissed. “Those cameras don’t record on her mainframe.”
“I am aware.”
“Then how did the footage get to her mainframe?”
“I don’t know, Remus,” Isa growled. “I don’t really have time to figure it out. We have to deal with this fucking mess with Saera and then I have to keep meeting with Colonel Amori because he can’t make up his fucking mind about what he wants to do.”
Remus stared at Isa, confused and worried.
“Isa—”
“What?” she snapped when he did not continue.
“You’re scaring me.”
Isa took a deep breath.
“Venus wants to see us immediately,” Isa said. “Let’s just handle this situation. Alright?”
They were silent for the remainder of the drive back to the Syndicate Building. They walked through the building silently, ignoring the eyes of the other Elites. Remus followed Isa down a hidden stairwell to the audience hall for Venus, which was deep under the Syndicate Building, heavily protected by Venus’ most advanced security codes. They both went through the retinal and DNA scans, their bodies checked by sensors for hazardous material before they were let into the audience hall.
The single chair still looked small in comparison to the cavernous room and Venus’ enormous hologram. The figure remained still, waiting for Isa and Remus to approach. Isa stood on one side of the chair as Remus stood on the other.
“I have programmed a visual translator for B-X210016 to understand this conversation,” Venus started, the words appearing across the hologram’s front as she spoke. “The video of what happened between you two last night shows that you have raped your Golden Elite.”
“Dr. Busen determined that it was not rape,” Isa spoke up. “Our relations last night were consensual.”
“Regardless if they were consensual, sexual relations between Syndicate Elites is illegal and punishable by death,” Venus said. Isa and Remus both tensed. “You both were engaged sexually at the Academy, as well. Have those relations continued through these years in the Syndicate?”
“Yes, Venus,” Remus answered.
“As this is still a private matter, and we are in a crisis with Saera being destroyed and Gihron refusing to compromise, I will not order your execution, B-X210016,” Venus said, addressing Remus. “However, you are ordered to terminate all sexual relations immediately.”
“With all due respect, Venus,” Remus started, “we—”
“I agree,” Isa said. Remus rounded on her, his eyes shooting wide. “I will obey your command, Venus. We will terminate our sexual relationship immediately.”
“I will delete this footage and we will mandate that all Officials who know of the rape allegations remain silent, as well as anyone who has seen the footage.”
“Isa?” Remus whispered, staring at the Golden Elite in shock.
“As you command,” Isa said, bowing her head.
“I will meet with you at a later time when I have completed my diagnostics on Saera,” Venus concluded. “Until then, try to reach a compromise with Gihron. Meet with the Colonel’s delegates separately and see if they can convince him to agree to our terms.”
Isa bowed her head and turned to leave. Remus looked between Isa and Venus, confused, surprised, and hurt. He opened his mouth to protest, but decided that trying to convince Venus would be futile. Instead, he bowed his head quickly and hurried after Isa.
“Isa!” he called, running to her. “What the hell was that?”
“What was what?”
“What you said in there?”
“It’s for the best, Remus.”
She picked up her pace and made her way to the parking garage, Remus close behind.
“Are we even going to discuss this?”
“Remus, it has been a trying day,” Isa said, watching her car pull up to the loading area. “Go home.”
“No,” Remus snapped. “You are not going to push this aside. I deserve an explanation, Isa!”
Isa got into her car, ignoring Remus as he tried to get her to talk to him. She remained sitting upright in her seat, her eyes ahead of her as her car slowly pulled away from the loading area and started toward the street.
Once Remus was out of sight, Isa bent her head forward and pressed it against the front console, her breath leaving her shakily.
She felt so confused and frightened that she did not know how else to react. She had to keep everyone at a distance. If she let them get close, Colonel Amori would harm them, turn the on her…
She closed her eyes tight and her hands went to her head, fisting her hair angrily, her entire body shaking.
She did not want her relationship with Remus to end. He had been her biggest support. Whenever he held her at night, she felt safe, like she could finally be comfortable and not be held to the standards of the Golden Elite. Remus had been the most important part of her success.
It hurt her to say those words, that they would end their relationship.
But Isa could not have Colonel Amori continue to use Remus as motivation. She had broken many rules, but she had always been sure not to cause harm to the people. Seeing the horrors that had befallen Saera, Isa had been forced to wonder if she had made the wrong decision.
Perhaps she should have chosen to destroy the Syndicate.
Isa was barely composed when she walked into her home. Rayal was setting the table for dinner, his hands shaking.
“Rayal?” she asked, surprised. “I called the hospital to pick you up.”
“You did?” Rayal asked. “They never came by.”
Isa closed her eyes and let out a defeated sigh, rubbing her forehead.
“I’ll call again.”
“Is something wrong?” Rayal asked nervously.
“The next person who asks me that is going to end up with two broken arms,” Isa growled, walking past him. Rayal watched her, startled by the words.
“I apologize if that was out of line,” he whispered.
Isa stopped and took a deep breath, her eyes closing.
She could almost hear the Colonel laughing as he watched her tear her own life apart. She knew she was acting harshly against everyone who had stood by her through the years, and she was hurting her closest support system, but she could not think of a better way to keep them safe. The Colonel watched her. If she told them what was going on, that she was being blackmailed by the leader of Gihron, he would turn them on her, killing Rayal as well. He would then kidnap her once more and force her to watch as Anon was destroyed and Gihron took over her planet.
She tried to think of any way, of any means, to communicate to the Elites, or to Dr. Busen or Paul, that something was wrong. Every form of communication was monitored, cameras set up all over the city and every place she worked. The network was too extensive. It was meant to be extensive to keep her safe, but it had her trapped in a very dangerous situation.
Her head began spinning.
The alarm went off at the door and Remus stormed in, his eyes alight with fury. Isa whirled around.
“You do not get to push this conversation aside,” Remus growled, walking to her. “I deserve a fucking explanation.”
“It’s for the best, Remus,” Isa said, retreating.
“Why?” he snapped. “Why is it for the best?”
“We can’t act like this anymore, Remus!” Isa barked. “We were young and stupid when we started this relationship, and we knew that we would be discovered eventually.”
“Yes, and you said that when we did, you would fight. You would fight for us!” Remus snarled. “You said that we needed to revolutionize the planet, we had to fight her an
d her laws against us and humans, and now that this comes up, you just lie down and take it!”
“Fuck off, Remus! You don’t seem to get how dangerous this is!” Isa bellowed.
Rayal stood to the side, his eyes wide in horror as he watched the fight rapidly unfold.
“I know exactly how dangerous this is!” Remus snapped. “I have had to live with it just as you have, but I was always ready to fight for you! I promised I would stand by you, and that I would never let Venus determine our relationship! You do not get to make this decision alone! You owe me more than that!”
“I don’t owe you anything!” Isa yelled. “You are the one who owes me for saving your fucking life, or have you forgotten that you’re a degenerate?!”
“Who the fuck are you?!” Remus snapped, stepping closer. “Anytime anyone said anything like that you would deny it and say that no one owed their life to anyone, and now you’re saying that I owe you?!”
“I did save your life, didn’t I? I told them that if they had you killed, I would rip everything down, and then I even went so far as to help you when you started to class jump, even after all that shit when those teachers—”
“Don’t you dare!” Remus barked, looming over Isa. “Not you. Don’t you even dare.”
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Isa growled. “The truth fucking hurts. You would have been dead if it wasn’t for me.”
“Maybe it would have been better that way!” Remus bellowed. “At least then I wouldn’t have to watch you fall apart in front of me and attack everyone who has ever cared about you. We all know something is wrong, Isa! We’re not fucking stupid! And now, you just decide that we need to obey Venus’ order? We’re ending this relationship we have managed to maintain against all odds for nearly fifteen years?!”
“What do you expect when you pull the shit you pulled last night?!” Isa snapped. She regretted the words the moment they escaped her lips.
“What?” Remus hissed.
“Maybe there was a fucking reason Venus thought you raped me!”
Rayal’s expression changed immediately, his eyes showing his horror. He shook his head, confused and terrified.
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