by DC Bastien
[Sianor: Well, you did better than me. I hated even reading out loud in class.]
[Ashroe: I never had a problem with that, it was the walking about bit that got to me.]
[Sianor: You know, from all the interviews I've read and watched... a surprising number of actors got into the business because they were nervous.]
[Ashroe: I saw that! It never made sense to me. Aversion therapy, I guess.]
[Sianor: 'So you're scared of dying? Let's kill you! That'll get you over it!']
[Ashroe: Remind me not to go to you for therapy.]
[Sianor: But it's the same principle!]
[Ashroe: Sort of, except you are going to die, but only once. Public speaking and spiders tend to happen more often.]
[Sianor: What's wrong with avoiding spiders?]
[Ashroe: Nothing, if you can do it. But if you can't, you need to be ready to cope with them. Either by using a glass and a coaster, or a hoover, or by getting someone in to handle it.]
[Sianor: I guess. But public speaking is awful.]
[Ashroe: And sometimes necessary. Okay, we aren't all going to be giving presentations to hundreds of staff, or treading the boards projecting that 'all the world's a stage', but there are going to be times you'll have to talk to a group of people. A little nerves is fine. A lot...]
[Sianor: Yeah. I suppose you are right.]
[Ashroe: Hey, I'm not going to drag you onto a karaoke, or into a public debate or anything. I was just playing devil's advocate.]
[Sianor: How do you cope now, then? If you got out of the habit of talking in public, I mean.]
[Ashroe: Well... I just have my notes written down and I find a friendly person to make eye-contact with, or I stare just above their heads.]
[Sianor: Ah. And... staring above their heads helps?]
[Ashroe: If you do it just right, then no one realises you're avoiding their eyes, and you don't feel so threatened. I wouldn't do the imagining naked thing unless you want to hate your imagination for years. And years. And years.]
[Sianor: Do you have to do it much?]
[Ashroe: I don't have to pretend to be someone else, no, but I do have to give presentations. Normally on surveys and options. I am not really important enough to make big decisions, it's normally the big boss who talks to the high-ups. But sometimes my statistical analysis will come into play and I'll do a little blurb on my conclusions.]
[Sianor: So you blind them with figures?]
[Ashroe: Mostly. Their eyes glaze over if you talk too complicated at them. I gave up long ago explaining about weighting and metrics, and now I just show them pretty comparator graphs.]
[Sianor: It sounds...]
[Ashroe: You can say it, it sounds stupid. It is. I once had big dreams about saving the world, one survey at a time...]
[Sianor: I'm sure you do good things.]
[Ashroe: Yeah, I put more street lights in places where people feel a little bit anxious at night, if you prompted them by asking them. Seriously, they don't understand question prompt bias. I've given up. Now I just try to help make things be efficient, and... at least partially helpful.]
[Sianor: You ever think about changing job?]
[Ashroe: Plenty. But to what? I thought I needed job satisfaction through results, but I don't honestly know where I could make that kind of difference.]
[Sianor: Well... could you... go into politics?]
[Ashroe: Could you imagine me in politics?]
[Sianor: I could, actually. You've got a social conscience. You're smart.]
[Ashroe: And I don't back down on my principles... I'd be bald and insane within a year. Between all the dodgy dealing, the compromises, and the even bitchier office politics... no. It's not for me.]
[Sianor: It's a pity.]
[Ashroe: You had a think about what you want to do for a living?]
[Sianor: No, and it's kind of terrifying me. I... I have to do something that I could do from home, but... what?]
[Ashroe: Plenty of jobs do that. What's... what's your country like on disability related stuff? And I hope that doesn't sound offensive.]
[Sianor: It doesn't sound offensive. I dunno. One minute we're being treated with the utmost PC, the next... well. I heard how you guys get stuff all free or cheap?]
[Ashroe: Yeah, one of the few perks of the country. Other than the lack of guns and cheese in squeezy bottles.]
[Sianor: Hey! I love that stuff.]
[Ashroe: It's not food. But go on.]
[Sianor: Well... one of my aunts has a friend who has a business. Mom once said I could go to them for something entry-level. You know, to actually earn something and not just live off my parents or the state forever.]
[Ashroe: What's wrong with that one? You don't sound too impressed.]
[Sianor: It's not the job, it's... it's the way of getting it. It feels like it's wrong.]
[Ashroe: Well... it might be, but then again people used to pick their family for apprenticeships. You see all these signs - well here at least - Stevens and Sons. You think that's bad?]
[Sianor: I guess not. And everyone else does it.]
[Ashroe: Exactly. And no one gives the martyr an award. Maybe in Heaven, but not in the tax year.]
[Sianor: I'm now imagining undercover angels in government office, secretly adjusting tax codes for the worthy.]
[Ashroe: Hey, the J-Man was friends with the tax collectors. So who knows? Not to mention it was a census that had his parents in Bethlehem to begin with. The holy book is rife with government officials.]
[Sianor: So... you're saying I should take it?]
[Ashroe: If they are running a legitimate business, and want to turn a profit, they wouldn't keep you on if you sucked. Which I know you won't. But they'd either upskill you or downsize you if you didn't pull your weight.]
[Sianor: That is adult-speak for 'yes'?]
[Ashroe: Damn skippy it is!]
***
Chapter Eighteen - Mission: Frustration
"You're the ones they were looking for?"
"Depends which 'they' you mean," Avery said, using his foot to shut the door behind them.
"Loap. And Saidhe."
"I'm their Captain," Vadim replied. "Captain Vadim. Maybe they mentioned me?"
"They mentioned they were looking for their crew-mates, but not your names," one of the Roq - did he say he was Greach? - told them, looking apologetic. "They were consulting with one of the Brisks. Something about where she used to work."
"Let me guess, she used to work for the local broadcast station?"
"How did you guess?" the other one - Faria - asked.
"Call it a hunch."
"We... we know people. Anyway. When we flew in, looked like there was some sort of commotion going on?" Vadim ran his hand absently over the hopper, automatically checking for damage. It was a thing. You learned to pay attention to things that could leave you dead, if they weren't sorted.
"That's just it, when they went... all of a sudden there was screaming, yelling... two ships. There was gunfire exchanged, and we hid here." Faria was shaking. Evidently it had been bad.
"Do you know who it was? Or why they'd be here?"
"No, just..."
"Captain, if I may?" Mes cut in.
Vadim arched his eyebrows, waiting for the yes from the couple huddled in the ship. They nodded, and Vadim waited.
And waited. And then he realised that Mes didn't have access to the same amount of cameras as she normally would, and would find the silence difficult to understand. "Go on."
"I was monitoring the situation. I was going to attempt to rescue Saidhe and Loap, but by the time I found out anything was wrong, it was too late. Two heavily armoured, shielded ships flew in. They had unassuming identification, but from tapping into the local information flows the Roq here seem to think it was a Sianar group."
"Sianar? In a kolkhoz?" Avery sounded utterly confused. "Why would they do that? Why would they risk it?"
"I do not know. But studying t
he footage the locals captured, along with the ships' transponder signals, and the initial tactics, I can only surmise that they were indeed Sianar. In particular, that they were Ardeshir."
"Ardeshir? What in the hell would they want with a Roq group?" Vadim asked. "And if they were Ardeshir, they wouldn't be so freaking dumb as to be rumbled."
"Not unless they wanted to," Avery said, almost under his breath.
"Ardeshir?" Greach's voice was a tremble, almost breaking in terror. "My family remember the last time a Roq saw one, and that was in the rebellions! They're only ever trouble!"
"I believe they were attempting to take Saidhe and Loap secretively, but that the second ship disrupted them," Mes explained.
"Wait one, go back," Vadim said, holding a hand up. He'd forgotten she couldn't see his gestures properly, again. "I thought you said there were two Sianar ships?"
"I thought that initially. I did not notice their arrival, it was only when I pieced together the information afterwards that I uncovered the truth. One ship arrived a little sooner, and the disruption started shortly after the second arrived."
"And Saidhe and Loap?"
"I... I believe they were on board one, or both of the ships."
Deep breath, Kip. Deep breath. "You believe?"
"Captain, may I remind you that I am barely more functional than an electric toothbrush with wings and a connection to the net at this moment in time?"
Avery slapped his knee in amusement. "Well, Kip. Even your ship gives you sass. You must love the abuse."
Vadim narrowed his eyes at Avery warningly. Now was not the time. "...fine. Did you get any trajectory on them?"
"I did. They both fled the system. They either had pre-clearance, or they circumvented the normal routines."
"...thanks. I think."
"I could not track them once they left the planetary sensors. I... am sorry, Captain."
"No, you did good. If we didn't have you, then... we'd know even less."
"Am I correct in assuming that you do not have my... ship?"
"Not right now. We'll get it back, though."
There was an awkward silence then. Vadim wasn't sure why he suddenly felt so guilty. Sure, he wanted his damn ship back, of course he did, but... damnit. She was still alive, right? Still Mes.
"We... we can take you to the elders. To see if they know any more. To make sure they are actually... gone?" Faria offered.
Vadim looked over to Avery, but he shook his head.
"You guys have already had enough crap thrown at your head. We should be going. I'll make sure... I'll make sure there's reparation comes your way, assuming we get out of this okay." But that wasn't why they were leaving, and he guessed he knew Avery's reasoning.
"Would you like me to take you back, Captain?" Mes offered.
"We already have a ship. I can pilot you, and follow Avery."
"Or I can fly myself."
"Wait, what?"
"There are less restrictions on me in this craft. I have much more autonomy by default."
"...you saying you could just... up and go?"
"Yes. I could do the same in my real home, if you enabled the facility. I thought perhaps it would be unwise, considering what happened on Lineon. But the damage I could do in this craft is limited."
Still. Vadim wasn't sure what he thought about a completely unbound AI ship flying about. It was... it was weird, was what it was.
"I think I'll still fly you myself, just for now. Maybe later, hey?"
"As you wish."
Greach and Faria got up, carefully climbing out of the cockpit. As they passed, Greach touched a claw gently to Vadim's arm. "Please make sure they are alright. They... they were - are - nice people. Send them our regards."
"Sure will. And you two, I want you to keep your heads down. If'n anyone but us comes asking you about all this... play as dumb as you can. Understand?"
They nodded, and Vadim slipped into the tiny craft. "C'mon, Gunner, I'll take you back to your wheels."
"This should be fun."
***
"The Ardeshir?" the Judge asked. "Well... that certainly makes things more complicated." He laced his fingers together and dropped his chin onto them.
"I didn't think they even still existed," Vadim said, trying to keep his voice even. "Why would they risk attacking a Roq hippy commune?"
"Of course you thought they were gone. That's what they'd want you to think." The tall Enforcer was examining his own nails with an air of nonchalance that made Vadim's teeth grind. "A super-secret, ninja, black ops group sworn to the Za's service? Why would he get rid of that?"
"Maybe because of the huge public relations nightmare after Dajin-Bo? You know, when all those poor little innocent baby Roq got--"
"Kip. A real ninja is never seen unless he wants to be."
"I wish you'd stop harping on about ancient mystical orders."
"I wish you'd listen, then I wouldn't have to."
"Boys," Peters said, warningly. "Mes must have had reason to suspect it was the Ardeshir."
"I did," the ship answered. "Of the two ships, one was completely untraceable - likely custom-built - and the other is owned by a private security company. There were definitely Sianar on the ground, and what little I could glean from the first-hand reports was consistent with known tactical methods of the Ardeshir. They were, as the Captain said, publicly disavowed following the Dajin-Bo incident, but rumours persist that the order continued."
"So Ail sent them?" Vadim looked from one man to the other. "He did, right?"
"I know Ail well. I... never thought he would do that to his own family." But Avery sounded a little uncertain. "There are other elements at play, though. There's her sister, Eru."
"She... she gave me the creeps. All: 'look here's my torture dungeon, but don't tell anyone'."
"That... is a bit worrying," Avery conceded. "Did she offer to show you her special toys and tie you to the wall, or was she more of a 'cuff my wrists and screw me senseless' type?"
"It is a wonder you two ever got anything done," Peters said. "Yes, we have to consider it could either be Ail or Eru. Both have the means and the motive."
"You might have to fill me in on things a bit, here. I feel like I'm working from three sheets behind," the Captain complained.
"Sianar succession is not decided by chance, Captain. The Za names his or her successor. Normally it is one of their direct descendants, and it does not need to be the firstborn. Ail had three children, and only two survived. He lost his wife, and never remarried."
"So... could Eru become the next Za?"
"She could, if Ail declared her his preferred choice."
"Let me guess, he hasn't?"
"He hasn't declared anyone, which is... a cause of some concern. Neither of his daughters has yet to marry, which could well be due to waiting for someone of sufficient political acumen, or it could be a romantic reason," the Judge went on. "Historically, there have been many marriages of convenience, and many... accidents."
"Accidents?"
"You know - well. Maybe you don't know..." Avery conceded. "Kre and Eru had a brother, Cil. He died, shortly before Kre went all... science priest. It's not spoken of, but it's widely thought that the grief was a prime motivator for her, and it left Eru as the... presumed heir."
"Some people," Avery said, almost under his breath, "...say that Cil's death was... fortunate."
"Oh, great. So when I went into the torture dungeon with her, she might have bumped me off? Thanks for warning me about that, guys!"
"Hey, I didn't think you'd be cheating on me with a seven foot hunk of burning love-fur!"
"Cheating? I was keeping her company so Kre could have a quiet jaw-jaw with her father!"
"This is very, very bad," Peters interrupted, ignoring the lovers' tiff. "Word will get back to Draqqi about potential assault and kidnapping of a Roq by Sianar. Even without the word 'Ardeshir' in the air, it's going to be difficult to keep the peace."
"
And what about Sparkle and Spikes?"
"We have to assume that the Za has them. If he does, releasing them would be an admission of guilt. So he won't want to do that."
"...so... what? We go in, bust some heads, and break them the hell out of there?"
"Not unless you want an intergalactic war."
"...fine. But I'm not happy about this. Gunner, you know him. Can't you yell at him, or something?"
"Kip, it doesn't work like that. If he is behind all of this, then the chances are high he wants to use them to force Kre into accepting his nomination. But the Judge is right... he won't want to suddenly have two foreign nationals on his hand, held illegally."
"And if it is Eru, instead, then the Za might not know about it, and she might well cover her tracks and destroy all evidence - all evidence - if we confront her."