by Reiter
Jocasta watched as Oedelorana collected her daughter and summoned the servants to come out on the sun deck. “That’s some costume changer, Princess Maradothia.”
“Are you liking me even more now, Captain?”
“Give it up, kid,” Jocasta sighed. “You’re not getting the blades.”
“Dammit,” Maradothia muttered.
“And to answer your spoken question… yeah, I am. One helluva breakfast. What say you, CeCe?”
Cilrus put his fists on his hips and took a pose feigning glorious status. “Captain, I find myself the center of too much envy to care.” Jocasta laughed as she limped toward her chair. She was in her second stride when Oedelorana took hold of the pirate’s arm.
“There’s more than one regen, Captain. We’re taking care of that limp right now.”
“Oh no,” Jocasta said, pulling her arm free. “I don’t do other people’s regens.”
“I’m sorry, did I phrase that as a suggestion?” Oedelorana asked as she took a firmer grasp of Jocasta’s arm. The pirate waved off her enforcer who was about to make his presence known.
“You Imps love that line, don’t you?”
“One of the first things you pick up at Court,” Oedelorana jested as she started walking.
“Why did I wave him off?” Jocasta pondered as she limped along. She started to think of all the people who could get away with making her do what she had stated she did not wish to do. The list was short but very distinguished. “Because you respect her that much, Jo, that’s why. The woman was barking orders in the fight for sharp’s sake! Then she had the nerve to be good at it too! She’s not that old,” Jocasta weighed, looking the woman up and down. Oedelorana was aware of the survey, but believed it was best not to say anything. “Four kids and still has a bod!
“Say, Lady S, you in the market for a man? I’ve got this friend of mine, he’s happily married at the moment, but I’m sure we could work something out.”
“How could I begin to say no to that?” the sarcasm was thick in Lady Sylgarr’s voice.
“I’m just saying, the title of Governor’s Mistress has all sorts of appeal!”
“Getting to more serious matters,” Maradothia said as she started looking around. “… if that man is not Dyanko…”
“Loranos has him in one of the guest rooms,” Gulfrileene advised. “… bound by a spell.”
“That’s not going to go over well,” Maradothia spoke her thoughts. “Tell me, Captain, how did you know that the InvokeR was lying?”
“You’ll have to forgive me, Your Majesty,” Jocasta smiled in-between limping strides. “Having one up on an Imperial kinda feels good at the moment. CeCe, get up to the spellbound Purdian and bring him to the med-room. I’ll talk to him and see if we can come to a less aggressive solution.”
“Concern, Captain?” Maradothia questioned. “Is that the pirate way?”
“Now I know I have two up on you!” Jocasta huffed as she walked. “Having served with three in particular, I will say this much: you open the book on a Purdian, make right with your gods. With any good luck, one of them will smite you and save you the pain of the Purdian resolve!”
Her blue eyes opened to look up into the face of her enforcer and Jocasta could have thought of a number of things she would have preferred to have seen first over Cilrus’ face. The image was stirring enough to make Jocasta want to get out of the regenerator more quickly than what would have been considered the normal haste.
“I trust everything is clean and green,” the pirate captain said as she reached for her clothes.
“As clean as it can be, given the circumstances,” Cilrus replied. “What passes for law around these parts is here and they’re waiting for you. It seems that word slipped that you were a self-professed pirate.”
“Where did that slip from?” Jocasta asked.
“Not sure, but they took our weapons an–” Cilrus’ report was cut short by the back of Jocasta’s hand.
“Care to tell me why you’re not in a regen, CeCe?” Jocasta asked sharply. “Because you’re here, which means you didn’t cut and run, get word to the ship, and yank my ass out of here. You surrendered?!”
“Captain, there was at least a score of ‘em,” Cilrus tried to explain before receiving another slap. This one forced him to move back a step. Fists formed at the ends of his arms as he glared down on Jocasta.
“Oh, so you can square off against me, but a score of guards makes you cower like a scared little bitch!” Jocasta moved so that she was closer to Cilrus, giving him the advantage. “You feelin’ froggy? Jump! I’ll be your Lilly pad… once!” Cilrus stared into unwavering blue eyes of steel and decided it was best to take a step back. “I thought as much. That was just the preamble. I will deal with you once we get back aboard ship,” Jocasta huffed as she quickly put on her clothes. She walked out if the infirmary with intent and speed, the heels of her boots announced that she was coming, and no one took the option of remaining in her path.
“I’ll be having my effects, if you please,” Jocasta announced as she walked into the parlor. Both Loranos and Oedelorana moved quickly to speak to Jocasta, but the former stopped when his mother’s hand was pressed into his face.
“Captain Starblazer, up from your nap. Allow me to introduce you to Investigator Lulgere of the Inter-Baronial Constabulary and Commander Tarx of the Baronial Armada. They are here to investigate a recent theft in the area. As to your effects, I thought they were in need of maintenance.” Jocasta looked into the woman’s eyes and read a silent plea written across her face. A blind man could see the captain was on the verge of spewing rage, but Lady Sylgarr was begging Jocasta to stay her wrath. “The technicians should be done shortly.”
Commander Korren Tarx stood with his Lieutenant and looked upon the woman who had just entered the room. His eyes had only just come to her, as he had decided to first look at everyone else’s reaction to her arrival. Members of the Imperial Court did not move any faster than they felt they had to, and that normally meant for the Emperor or his immediate family. But it was not the Princess who had entered the room. She was already there, and even she had moved expeditiously to intercept the blonde-haired woman. Then there was the newly named Lord Sylgarr who had been mushed in response to his efforts to speak to the woman. As the young man stepped back, he had looked more worried than mortified or outraged.
“Lady Sylgarr’s explanation verges on duplicity,” Tarx thought as he slowly turned to face this Captain Starblazer. “This woman commands respect, and waking to find one’s possessions removed can be disconcerting. But it seems my colleague of the moment is already on the move. How quaint!”
Tolpo Lulgere was a portly man who believed his talents were better applied elsewhere. He did not like working with the regular militia, but given the matter of what had been purloined, he really did not have a choice in the matter. “Greetings to you, Captain,” Tolpo said as he approached, offering his hand. “So good to make your acquaintance.”
Jocasta held Lady Sylgarr’s eyes for a moment longer before she stepped toward the man. She took hold of his hand and her grip was felt. “Investigator,” she said softly. “So, a theft in the vicinity, eh?”
“Indeed, Captain,” Lulgere said as his hand was released. “You wouldn’t know anything about it, would you?”
“What was stolen?” Jocasta asked.
“That I am not at liberty to say,” the Investigator replied.
“So you want to know if I know anything about the theft of… something,” Jocasta said before nodding. “Now that you mention it, there have been several such wrong doings in this area. Someone has stolen time out of your day asking you to investigate a missing question mark… your normal place of respect has been purloined because the former point makes you look like an utter buffoon, which I hope to be untrue… and lastly, someone stole my last chance for getting any good sleep today.”
“According to your man here, you are a pirate,” Korren advised.
“I’m sure he meant to say privateer,” Maradothia offered as she took a step toward the group. “This is all a simple misunderstanding.”
“A moment, Your Majesty,” Korren replied, lifting his hand toward the Imperial Princess. “But this is not the Inner Rim. While the Garnet Barony has respect for the Imperial Throne, it does not and will not be guided by the perspectives of any member of the Imperial Court.”
“Strong words, Commander,” Jocasta grinned.
“You’ll find they are spoken by a strong man, Captain,” Commander Tarx quickly returned. “You’ll forgive me if I feel that the confession of your crewman calls for further questioning. I’d hate to lose any further respect in your eyes.”
“Trying to catch the Investigator, Commander?” Jocasta asked, stepping closer to the lean man. She looked up into his gray eyes and smiled. “But I agree with your assessment. Truth is, despite the earnest and very much appreciated efforts of the Imperial Princess, I am a pirate.
“You have a crime… you also have a timeline,” Jocasta stated. “By now you’ve already verified when I landed at the estate, which means if I was a suspect, I would already be in restraints. This is an old power play between dumb constable and dumber constable. And while I can’t say which one of you is which, I think we’ve all seen it played better. You have a pirate, and you have a crime, the two don’t mesh. So between ample boy’s inane questioning and you posing for Stud Quarterly, I’m supposed to run scared and do something silly? Got that many high-rollers breathing down your necks, do you?”
“What makes you think the victim is affluent?” Korren pressed.
“Because both of you are here!” Jocasta barked. “Only juicy and rich assholes could call the ball on that one.” Jocasta pointed at the two lead uniformed men. “You two have got the mutual appreciation of a cat and a rat… can’t say I’m not a fan of either.”
Korren looked back at Lulgere and the Lieutenant and gave the head gesture for the men to take their leave. One of the most prized possessions in The Territories had been stolen. The only thing they had to show for their investigation was charred earth and lost fighters. It had been a bold but ultimately desperate ploy: to bring in a pirate to give their respective superiors something to concentrate on. The woman appeared to be young, but she had been in the company of or the practice of piracy for a considerable length of time. Tarx walked out of the room followed by Lulgere who at least managed a head nod. The moment the two were out of her eyes, Jocasta’s smile faded and she turned to face Lady Sylgarr who was already giving the order to fetch JoJo’s effects.
Jocasta turned and put her eyes on Cilrus who chose not to hold her stare. “Didn’t think of leading off with ‘Lady Sylgarr took your weapons’?” He looked down and she sighed before turning to face Maradothia. “Privateer? Not bad, Your Majesty. There are many in my stride who would look favorably on such a position.”
“I would never make the mistake of extending the offer to you, Captain,” Maradothia explained. “I just did not wish to see further blood spilled in this house.”
“Speaking of blood, what is the understanding here?”
“Captain, I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” the Princess quickly answered, giving a gentle smile as she spoke. “I and my friends accepted an invitation to a brunch at the Sylgarr Estate in order to discuss Loranos’ appointment to the Council as a Legacy. I am simply waiting for my brother, the Regalion, to endorse Loranos’ application. I will stand with Lady Sylgarr when the announcement is made on the Imperial Telnet Grid.”
“Nifty,” Jocasta replied. She waited for a moment before taking three steps toward Loranos, glaring at him and leaning in close to speak softly. “Just so there’s no unmarked debris between us, in my book, you put an offensive hand to someone I like. The fact she’s your mother is the only reason why you’re still breathing!” Jocasta’s face softened as she turned to face Maradothia. “Must be nice to have that kind of weight to throw around,” she said, walking to meet the servant carrying her weapons.
“You sound as if you have to make the assumption, instead of recalling a similar incident,” Maradothia countered. Jocasta laughed as she donned her coat, and Maradothia maintained her smile as she approached to speak at a volume where only Jocasta could hear her. “But let us be women now as we have been up to this point. You are a criminal, Captain, albeit a respectable and perhaps even an honorable one. If you dare to cross the boundaries of the Inner Rim–”
“Pray I’m not crossing those lines because I’m after you or someone you cherish, Your Majesty,” Jocasta interrupted, locking her eyes on Maradothia’s. “Additionally, I hope the souls you dispatch after me have their affairs in order. Respect has been received and, in your name, respect is given. But let’s get one thing straight and sure. You’re an adorable asshole! I cut the right vein and you bleed the blood of the people… that’s the adorable part, because there’s a shortage of throne-warmers that are worth a Kot. But please believe… that won’t stay my hand if you get in-between where I am and where I’m going.”
“You sound as if you sit atop a throne yourself, Captain,” Maradothia remarked.
“Now you’re getting nasty,” Jocasta returned.
“Not yet, Captain.
“And you better hope not ever, Princess!” Jocasta turned and walked to Lady Sylgarr, once again surprising the woman with an embrace. She kissed the woman on the cheek before whispering, “Not for nothing, but if she’s got all that piss and wind, why didn’t she call Big Daddy Emperor? Keep her close if you want, but keep your blaster closer! Seats only have meaning at a table.”
“And may you find bright stars in your path, Captain,” Oedelorana said with a genuine smile. She gave Jocasta’s arms a reassuring squeeze.
“Even if I have to steal them first.”
There is no short cut to achievement. Life requires thorough preparation – veneer isn’t worth anything.
George Washington Carver
(Rims Time: XII-4203.15)
Dungias stepped down from the gangplank of the Kulri-Kraythe, his cloak unfurling from a dimensional pocket at the back of his neck. A slight glint of light shone from the silvery lining as the fabric fell around the shoulders of the Traveler. When the cloak made contact with the sleeve where Alpha rested, Dungias’ awareness was increased and he moved the hood up and over his head. The lining of the hood was just above his eye line and it linked with his goggles. Though none of the crew of the Xara-Mansura walked with him, the Star Chaser was not alone. His brace-com signaled that it had established linkage with the computer aboard his scout ship, and Dungias was reminded that only one of his creations was with him now. His hand touched against Alpha’s sleeve and he could feel a responsive wave of gravity softly grip at his fingertips for a moment.
Dungias recalled the knowledge Eesa had given him. Though her teachings were over a thousand years old, it did not appear as if this place had been renovated, so the coordinates he had been given sufficed. He walked away from the landing field and toward the super-structure, reflecting over recent events.
The Master Traveler considered those he had left at Smitty’s research facility. CK had suggested that it be called the Endigun Platform, and Dungias did not have an argument to the contrary. At the controls of the Kulri-Kraythe as it emerged from an aperture, Dungias could see it.
“Now that place looks important!” Darthi had remarked and Dungias allowed himself to smile.
“Truly you are a navigator, little one,” he had replied, resolving what needed to be done with each of those who had come from Rims Space with him.
Looking at the changes that had been made for training Jocasta and Persephone, the notion of what to do with Satithe, Jovasor, Teela, Rahneece, Ephaliun, and the Xaraman Triplets had become clear to the Traveler. After securing the treasure of his Captain, Dungias had decided to apply the methodology of how Alpha had been created to compose a computer program that would bring each of his intended targets in
to a scenario whereby he could either initiate or further their training.
BJ and Berylon had arrived minutes after they received the summons from the Master of The Campus. Dungias had smiled, embracing them both, commenting on how they looked to be more vibrant than when he had seen them last. The compliment had been well-received, though Berylon had gone out of his way to give his positive review regarding the Traveler.
As Dungias had suspected, BJ possessed a stone much like the one inside Alpha that could read life-force, though the Founder’s stone was not as strong as Dungias’. A moot point, as the Malgovi man had volunteered himself to be read and recorded so that BJ could monitor the scenario-building program. Berylon had then presented Dungias with a gift. He took hold of Alpha for a moment and then allowed his light to flow into the Osamu. The beginning concepts of Living EnerJa had been donated to Dungias’ ever-growing library, along with a few skill-craft lessons on how to construct power crystals. The Traveler had thanked his Light Brother and then saw to the immersion of each of his charges into the training program. BJ had smiled when he realized that along with the living and breathing crewmen, Satithe was also being taken into a scenario.
“You never cease to amaze me, Dungias,” BJ had commented. “You don’t see her as a machine at all, do you?”
“I see her as exactly a machine, my friend,” Dungias had returned. “I simply do not subscribe to the common Human perspective that limits anything built by the hands of man as being less than having the potential for life. Satithe has a pulse just as you and I do, she needs energy as you and I do… and she has fears and regrets as you and I do. It is the lattermost of these three conditions that I must address if she is to be healed.”
“And thus what I see is now understood,” Berylon had stated, placing his hand on Dungias’ shoulder. “And the costs of your trekking can never be measured.”