by Andrew Mack
Jones continued, “Where ever we were supposed to be, that is where an incident was. We didn’t know if it was you or someone in Kimikawa’s office.”
Willits added, “Once the explosion happened at Vi’s guest house on Torsalli, we knew for sure.”
Alexis looked puzzled. “There was another incident on Torsalli?”
Jones smiled. “That’s when we knew it wasn’t you because you knew nothing about that. It had to be someone in Kimakawa’s office. We hoped Kimakawa was smart enough to figure it out.”
Alexis paused for a second. It was clear Willits and Jones had finally come clean with her. It was time to return the favor. She held up her wrist-watch device, which held up an image. “Well, he figured it out.”
Willits saw the image of Kimakawa holding the decapitated head of Meyers. Willits added, “Could not have happened to a nicer guy.”
Alexis then showed the image to Jones, who added, “I’ve never seen him look better.”
Willits then said, “Well, glad we are back on the good side, even though I am not sure why we were ever doubted in the first place.”
Jones added, “That won’t do us much good getting out of this predicament.”
Alexis asked, “What’s your plan?”
Willits said, “I had one, but I am not sure if Lord Malovex’s incident out on the pad is going to help or hurt us.”
Jones added, “Unless you got any other suggestions?”
Alexis thought for ten long seconds. She walked over to Willits’s wrist transmitter and held her wrist-watch device next to it. She hit a couple of buttons. The image of Meyers was transferred over. Alexis said, “Talk with Lord Malovex, barter.”
Jones asked, “Barter?”
Alexis said, “Kimakawa said Meyers was a spy, so ask yourself who he was feeding the information to? It certainly wasn’t just Taz.”
Willits and Jones looked at each other for a moment, before realizing this might work.
Lord Malovex was in a room with his three of his Lieutenant’s and one Commander. The Commander continued, “My Lord, I do not know all the details of Torsalli. But I have looked at the surveillance and heard from other officers. Had those two DAG officers not got that bomb away from the fuel truck, several soldiers would have killed. Not to mention the bomb left in the Ambassador Compound….”
An excited Lieutenant added, “Or how many people they saved when they told everyone to back up before Taz launched that fireball.”
Malovex added, “They clearly saw the security footage on Braccus. Some of you have not seen that yet.”
The Commander continued, “My Lord, it is your decision, but I have no reason to keep them until you order me otherwise.”
Another BRG Lieutenant came in and said, “My Lord, the two DAG officers request to speak with you.”
Malovex turned, with a puzzled look on his face. He said, “Send them in.”
Willits and Jones walked in. They were not handcuffed, but it was clear they were unarmed and not allowed to leave. They stood in the room, and then asked, “Lord Malovex, can we speak to you alone?”
Malovex was now really confused. After a moment, he looked at his Commander and nodded. The rest of the BRG officers began to leave. The excited Lieutenant added, “My Lord, would you like one of us to stay for security?”
Malovex looked at the Lieutenant with a combination of disgruntlement and annoyance. The Commander, very perturbed, grabbed the excited Lieutenant by the back of the collar and walked him out of the room. As he did, he gritted his teeth and quietly said, “He just killed Taz by himself. Do you think he can handle two unarmed humans?”
Malovex turned and looked at Willits and Jones. He said, “I wish to thank you. My officers tell me that without you two, many BRG would have lost their lives today.”
Willits responded, “Thank you for killing Taz. We have been trying to do that for some time now.”
Malovex answered, “I am aware. I was on SpacePort Earth, Braccus, and Torsalli after each one of his attacks. It seemed I was always one step behind him, and you two as well. Which brings us to our little problem. The death of two BRG officers onboard the Ambassador’s C-62T that blew up at the Torsalli Space Port.”
Jones responded and said, “We are aware, sir. We believe it was Taz.”
Malovex asked, “Taz blew up the Ambassador’s C-62T? From an internal bomb on the ship? Detonated from outside, where the two of you were conveniently fleeing the explosion to Vihaan Kapoor’s Estate below?”
Jones and Willits said nothing. After a pause, Malovex noted, “There is very little that I do not know. Including a missing D-21 Sirallo from Mr. Kapoor’s estate.”
Willits decided to call the bluff. “We might know a little more than you think, Lord Malovex.”
Malovex crossed his arms and asked, “Really? Like what?”
Willits held up his wrist-transmitter. It showed the image of Kimakawa holding up Meyer’s decapitated head. “Shame about our Vice Director, Franklin Meyers…”
Jones continued, “Slipped on a banana peel and fell right on Kimakawa’s Samurai Sword. Tough break….”
Willits added, “Clumsy fellow…”
Malovex replied, “What does this have to do with me?”
Jones answered, “It seems Meyers had a lot of friends…”
Willits added, “A lot of friends in your office, based on his transmissions…”
Jones continued, “To the point, we couldn’t take a piss without someone trying to blow us up.”
Willits finally added, “So yeah, we did what we had to do, to get the trail off of us. Sorry, it was your two officers, it was nothing personal, except for that Egglet comment.”
Jones turned to Willits and said, “Yeah, that was personal…”
Willits quickly added, “...and certainly unnecessary.”
Malovex stared at them for a few seconds. He quietly asked, “What are you proposing?”
Jones answered, “The truth does no one any good.”
Willits continued right after. “You pin their death on Taz. We pin this Meyers situation on Taz as well.”
Malovex asked, “And if I say no?”
Jones answered, “Well, likely you just shoot both of us, and we are out of your way, justice served.”
Willits continued, “But the Ambassador’s assistant is telling Kimakawa all this as we speak. In turn, she or he will tell Bird, who then addresses the entire Council as to why the BRG feels the need to spy on us.”
Jones continued, “Our dainty, little, mall-cop security.”
Willits added, “Only if we were to perish, or something happened to us.”
There was a long pause. Malovex took a deep breath and said, “I think we have all had enough killing for one day. I will deal with my officers. Besides, Taz was actually near the Space Port at Torsalli when that bomb went off. I wasn’t entirely sure it wasn’t him that detonated that bomb. Now I know the truth, so thank you.”
Willits and Jones looked at each other, not knowing that last part. After a second, they looked back at Malovex, who returned the look and only said, “Gentlemen, you are free to go.”
Belinea 8.13
Belinea, Capital City
Ambassador Compound, BRG Safe House
Ambassador Bird was in the room, still looking at his tablet. He was looking at the security footage from his condo unit, and the moment that Yi was murdered. It was beginning to sink in that someone died, a mentor, from someone trying to kill him. He was shaken up. The six DAG soldiers that stayed to guard him had not left his sight. They were in the room with him, along with four other BRG officers outside. Bird honestly did not know where he was, but despite it being safe, he felt anything but.
The door opened, and Ambassador Garvalin entered. She talked with the head BRG agent before sitting down next to
Bird. She said softly, “I am so sorry, Ambassador Bird. You have my condolences. Are you alright?”
Bird seemed scared. All of the other instances on his life he was not present for. This one happened forty meters from him. It should be him that was killed, not Yi. He looked at Garvalin before looking back at his tablet. A few seconds passed before he said, “Yi was a good man.”
Garvalin put her hand on Bird’s knee and said, “Yes, he was…”
A few more seconds passed before Bird opened up a little bit. He said, “I never looked at the situation from a security standpoint….”
Garvalin tilted her head, slightly shaking it in the confusion of the statement. Bird continued, “Yi and myself had discussed it, a lot lately, about the financial impact this would cause our economy. The resources we could save by putting it back into our development, not theirs. “
Bird stopped for a second. He looked at the tablet again, watched the moment Yi had blown up. After a few seconds, he continued. “But these guards in front of me, they are sworn to protect me at all costs. At their own mortality. The ones here in front of me have not left my side since the bombing.”
Garvalin looked at Bird and said, “They found Taz. Lord Malovex killed him.”
Bird nodded and continued, “I heard. I am just … I don’t know what I am. These men...Even the men whose competency I questioned...they still swore to protect me. I did not know what that really meant until now.”
After a pause, Garvalin said, “These are elite soldiers. We should give them every resource we can, so they can do their job.”
Bird looked at her when she said this. After a moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a note. Bird handed it to Garvalin. She asked, “What is this?”
Bird responded, “Lord Malovex gave me a note before I left Earth. It was a sealed message from Ambassador Yi. He did not trust any other communication methods. I think you should read it.”
Garvalin was confused. She opened the note and read it to herself.
Ambassador Bird,
I hope this note finds you in good spirits. We are in difficult times. Your presence, and speech, to the Council is crucial for the success of what we are trying to build. It is possible you may have a difficult journey to Belinea. Trust the people closest to you for guidance, but no one else. When you get to Belinea, I will explain everything. If, for some reason, something has happened to me, chaos has developed. Trust your judgment and seek out Ambassador Garvalin. She is aligned with our position.
It will be the most important speech you ever give, our survival depends on it.
Yi
Garvalin folded the note and looked at Bird. After a moment, She looked at the DAG guards and the BRG guards. She said, “Will all of you give me a moment alone with the Ambassador, please?”
The BRG officers walked out of the room and outside. Now that Taz was dead, they felt no real danger. The other six DAG soldiers slowly walked out except one, the de facto leader with Orlando not present. He looked at her, and she at him. Garvalin said, “You remember me from the wine shop?”
The DAG member nodded his head. Garvalin continued, “That matter I discussed with Ambassador Yi is what I am discussing now. I promise we will avenge his death together.”
The DAG officer hesitated for a second, before nodding and walking out. Garvalin then looked at Bird and said, “I was unaware he gave this to you.”
Bird shrugged his shoulders. He said, “I had a speech prepared, I even sent it to him to review. But he said he would discuss it with me when I got here.”
Garvalin stood up and paced for a moment. She said, “Ambassador, I have a copy of the speech Yi wanted you to give. I think the time to deliver it could not be more appropriate.”
Bird asked, “You have it with you?”
Garvalin reached into her pocket and pulled out a small stick. She gave it to Bird, who put it into his tablet. The speech was uploaded, and Bird began reading it. After thirty seconds, he looked at Garvalin and said, “You want me to say this?”
Garvalin said, “Yes, and so did Yi. There will never be a more right time.”
Bird took a deep breath and said, “I am not sure I can do it.”
Garvalin replied, “I understand. It will take a lot of courage. But the power of the message will be so much greater from you than me.”
Bird thought for a moment. He then said, “What about Santos? She is more senior than me.”
Garvalin replied, “They did not drop bombs on her.”
Bird thought long and hard. A solid twenty seconds passed. He then looked at Garvalin and said, “Something needs to be done, not for you or me. But for the legacy of Ambassador Yi.”
Garvalin nodded and said, “Let’s go to the Council meeting.”
Belinea 8.14
Belinea, Capital City
The House of the Council
The room to house all two hundred and eighty-four Ambassadors of the Council was enormous.
It looked like a giant theater, each Ambassador given a swiveling chair that exited with a tunnel out the back. Each chair had an arrangement of gadgets that were all within arm’s length reach. The room was horseshoe-shaped. Ambassadors with lower credentials and junior in rank were closer to the circular floor at the bottom. The more prestigious or senior the Ambassador was, the higher the chair was in the room. Thus, the entire top row of thirty Ambassadors was the most influential in the Council. Eye-level with them was a grand stage at the open end of the horseshoe. It faced the Ambassadors, with a large screen behind it, and a splendid magnificent chair for Chairman Hassara. Just below his right was Defense Minister Tempest Hassara, head of the AuFa. Below and to the left of the Chairman was Lord Malovex, the head of the BRG.
Malovex did not attend many Council sessions, but given the nature of what happened and the topics, his presence was needed.
Directly across the grand stage, all the way on the other side of the room was the Quill Box. It was in the middle (and slightly higher) on the top row of Ambassador chairs. It had a large chair that Quillisar Prill sat in, with an empty seat next to him for Lord Argo, head of the SS, or Secret Service of the Quill. Currently on the screen behind the grand stage was a 3-dimensional hologram of the Quill Diamond. All the Ambassadors were there in attendance. Ambassador Bird was at the bottom, directly next to the circle. In the tunnel behind him was Alexis, followed by Willits, Jones, Orlando, Trujillo, and Tunsall. Ambassador Garvalin was in the second row from the top. Because of the bombings, there was a more significant presence of BRG soldiers, double than usual.
Chairman Hassara stood up, which caused everyone else to do the same. The grand stage moved, slightly out about ten meters, and then down another fifteen meters. The Chairman spoke, the audio system amplifying his voice. “Greetings to all. Before we begin, we lost a member of our family yesterday. Ambassador Yi, from planet Earth. He was killed by a horrific act of terrorism. I would like Quillisar Prill to say a few words.”
Quillisar Prill took a step up in his box. The entire area that held his seat moved five meters forward, and down another three. Four spotlights turned on and directly casted light upon him from above. He spoke, “We are the Energy. When energy is added, energy is taken, peace is the energy around us. The energy that was in Ambassador Yi is now in all of us. The light and power of that energy cannot be extinguished. It merely grows stronger in all of us. The energy is eternal, and the memory of Ambassador Yi’s energy will never be forgotten. We are the energy.”
The rest of the audience responded in unison, “The energy is in us.”
The area Quillisar Prill was on retracted back to its original spot. Everyone sat back down in their seat. The Chairman then said, “A word from Ambassador Santos, now the senior Ambassador from the planet Earth.”
Ambassador Santos, A Spanish woman whose seat was only two rows above Bird’s, now had the
spotlights shine on her. Nervously, she said, “Thank you, Chairman Hassara. Ambassador Yi was a great man. Kind, endearing, compassionate. He represented everything good of what humans can be. He had no family. His life was this Council, and he considered many of you in this room his extended family. Let us hope this tragedy will serve as a platform to develop the necessary solutions to stop these unnecessary deaths. Defense Minister Hassara has been gracious enough to host a service this evening in his honor at the Grand Belinean Estate Ballroom. I hope to see all of you there so we can properly celebrate the life and legacy of a truly great man. Thank you.”
The Chairman acknowledged the quickness and continued. “Thank you, Ambassador Santos, for your kind words. Let us begin the session. I yield the podium to Defense Minister Tempest Hassara, to update the situation.”
Tempest stood, and now all the spotlights were on her. She said, “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ambassador Santos, Ambassador Bird, my deepest condolences.”
The screen behind Tempest began showing the events she was describing. “Let us begin with the Valmay Group, the Terrorist Cell based on Avola. They have grown stronger, targeting local Avolian miners and the Majavkee Lords. The Majavkee process the Vait and distribute it to the Council. Their success is critical for our development and security. Almost three weeks ago, this Valmay attacked an AuFa Garrison. As you can see, this particular attack killed twenty soldiers, as the group also seized four cargo units of Vait. Then, less than a week ago, they attacked a mining facility in Lowell Province. Their leader, Octavious Killian, is seen here attacking a Medical Transport with Avolian children onboard. Eight children died because of the attack, including fifty-eight AuFa and Majavkee soldiers. The attack on the Processing Center two days ago was the worst yet. The Valmay killed hundreds of innocent Avolians with an arsenal of bombs, missiles, and guns. Almost a hundred Majavkee security soldiers were killed, and thirty cargo units of Vait were stolen. I now recognize Ambassador Yebba of Avola. Ambassador, can you please elaborate for us?”
Ambassador Yebba, his chair located on the highest row, stood up. Three spotlights suddenly shined on him. “Thank you, Defense Minister. My fellow Ambassadors, I am pleading for your help. My planet is being ripped apart at the seams. The fear these terrorists are putting into the innocent Avolian people is real. The Majavkee Lords have processed an abundant amount of Vait, more than any previous regime. We should praise them for their efforts. But their security needs our help. These terrorists are not only killing innocent citizens of this Council; they are threatening the Vait production this Council is so dependent on. We need your help. We need the help of the AuFa. This Council, and our planet, simply cannot stand another day of uncertainty and tragedy. “