Seren walked down the steps of the Council Chambers, pulling the hem of her dress from the floor, and basked in the bright amber light of Mu Draconis' twin suns. To her left, she heard the Al Raqis marketplace bustle with people. The familiar cry of the water-sellers, the pottery makers and the thriving throng of humanity.
A familiar odour of cinnamon drifted along the breeze from the famous old bakery in the town. She looked to the north and saw the freighters and frigates coming and going from the spice facility. Looking straight ahead, beyond the immediate buildings and landing pads of Al Raqis, she saw the desert spreading out as far as she could see. She sighed, admiring the beauty of the desert dune crests, before readjusting the skirt of her dress. She looked at her timepiece and realising she had time to spare, decided to stroll to the landing pad where her ride was docked.
The day's Dawla meeting had been brief but she'd succeeded in getting the Araxian Freedom of Information Act past the first stage of approval. Consulari Jai Raghilda and Doctor Isaacs had both voted in favour of the act and in concert with her own vote gave them a majority. Delegate Gaffer and Gustav had yet to vote but even their unlikely opposition wouldn't be able to prevent the act going to the Laandsrat. She didn't know if the Laandsrat would pass the bill. She suspected they would.
After all, Seren was adept at playing the game. She often feigned stupidity. "Greater minds than mine..." was a common ploy. It invited others on board, massaged their egos, got them to do the dirty work. It worked in business, it worked in politics. The more people feel they'd been involved in something, the more likely it was to succeed.
Her second tactic was to publicly belittle her opposition. In this case, the Laandsrat. Call them corrupt, call them a police state. Let them react. Put them in a position where refusal to comply confirmed the accusations. Either they'd pass the bill of their own accord or they'd feel they had to pass it to avoid public criticism. There was always a risk involved in this strategy. Always the possibility of blow back.
Seren passed by the bakery. The queue was extraordinary, no matter what time of day it was. More than once, Seren had to adjust her path to avoid the playing children who darted in-between passing artisans, mothers and guards. She came down the steps, past the Sinisterhood tower and walked through the Zenobian Quarter. The Medical Centre had become a familiar landmark on her way 'home' and she strode past the security team on the landing bay showing her credentials and smiled. She banked right, past the Asgardian representative's vessel and met with Elena Galewind who walked down the ramp of the Erinyes One.
"Hello Mistress, how did the session go today?"
"It was short. Very short but I finally got the act through."
"Many congratulations, mistress."
Seren nodded and joined her companion as they strode together up the ramp. She walked into the cockpit and flopped down into the co-pilots chair. Her eyes were shut tight, the sun illuminating her eyelids through the transparent metal windows.
She heard Galewind take the pilots chair, running through the take-off procedure. A familiar sound of clicks and beeps, she heard the engines ignite.
"This is Erinyes One, requesting take-off."
"This is Al Raqis Command Tower, Erinyes One is cleared for take-off, vector 114,202,75 to 100,109,725 approx."
"Confirmed."
With that, the Erinyes thrust into the sky, the ornate towers of Al Raqis giving way to desert, then sky and finally stars.
"We received the Khaliifa's shipment of spice, mistress. It has been tested and quite carefully placed within the Persephone's central hold."
Elena could see the captain's reflection in the Erinye's view port. She was smiling broadly.
"Captain?"
"Yes?"
"It seemed you completed your objective."
"Yes, yes it does, doesn't it? That quarter ton of spice, invested wisely, is going to make us rich beyond our wildest dreams."
"And the Dawla? What are your plans there?"
"We got what we came for. To get rich. I did what I could. I'm a freighter pilot, how much can I do? Let others take the strain. I can't very well overthrow the Sovereign can I?"
"That would be unlikely....". Elena's face contorted as she banked the shuttle into the landing orbit at Highport Station, "...so what now?"
"Dock with Highport, attach the Erinyes to the docking clamp beneath Persephone and high tail it back to the New Paradigm."
"What about the charges?"
"With this much spice, I can buy myself out of that."
Elena nodded and saw from the Captain's reflection that she hadn't yet reopened her eyes. She allowed her finger to move to a button on the communications terminal and pushed it. Dipping her head, Elena smiled to herself and pulled a lasgun from beneath her jacket, concealing it within a fold in her sleeve. She read the text only display on the terminal before her.
"
Very well done, Miss Galewind. Proceed."
As they landed, Seren rose gingerly from her chair and patted her companions arm. Together they strode down the onto the landing platform.
As they came into the artificial atmosphere, Seren balked. Before her stood the very man she thought she'd never see. The man she thought she'd killed all those years ago.
Magnolious Grinch was alive.
She turned to run back to the shuttle and found herself pistol-whipped to the face. She fell back to the floor hard and cradling her head looked up to find herself face-to-face with a lasgun.
"Elena?"
"Get up."
Seren felt the shock hit her like nothing she'd felt before.
"I said get up."
The lasgun fired towards the ground, narrowly but purposely missing the Captain's left hand.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm sorry Captain. Really I am but somethings are simply too important."
"Too important..?"
Two burly henchman lifted Seren to her feet and she came face to face with Grinch for the first time in years. The reddish face, dark beard and cruel eyes were instantly familiar. She spat at him. He laughed.
"That's the Seren I know. Impetuous as always." He unleashed a punch, catching her full in the face. Her vision blurred, the world drifted away momentarily before coming back in searing pain. She felt warm blood trickle from her nose. The next fist to her temple turned the world dark and she drifted out of consciousness.
"Put her onboard the Persephone and plot a course.". Immediately his henchman did as they were told and dragged her body across the concourse to the docking bay. Elena, meanwhile stood still, the only movement her heavily heaving chest.
"Don't feel too badly, Miss Galewind. You knew this day would come. House Montraxy will be most pleased with your work."
"What will happen to her?"
"She'll be reconditioned. She'll remember none of this, dear child, so don't worry your little face about it. Of course, were it up to me, the little slut would be mind-wiped and be put to work in one of my brothels but alas, powers greater than myself have a purpose for her."
Elena nodded and blinked a couple of times. She felt she wanted to cry but she knew the greater order of things. Oh, she hated this man with all of her heart.
"It's hard." said Grinch, "I can see that but you need to prepare. For all intents and purposes, Delegate Undercroft has left Araxes to conduct business in the Paradigm. No-one will know differently. Now, if you'll please..."
He gestured towards the gun, Elena paused and then nodded, handing the lasgun over.
"You did well, this day, Miss Galewind. Your dear Alad will be most proud."
