Movie night turned out to be a popular thing - so much so that it became a nightly event, and a double feature at that. Alex took requests for the second film, in as much as he could. It was less being asked for specific movies, and more about finding something that aligned with genres and themes. It ended up being a real mishmash of stuff. He played Owl and the Sparrow after finishing Alien and Aliens, and followed that up with North by Northwest and then ET for a less violent look at what Humans thought aliens might be like.
The Alien franchise was not the best idea when you were going to be spending a significant length of time cooped up in a spaceship. Everybody who watched them, Alex included, ended up a bit more aware of all the unusual sounds a ship moving at FLT made for the next few days.
Carbon watched several of the films, usually only when Alex said she would probably enjoy it. He did recommend sticking around for Apollo 13, particularly because he knew such cavalier engineering would drive her up the wall. It did, but she still got into the movie.
They would have time to catch up with everything else in the future. Carbon spent a lot of her time in the evenings running the forward lounge. Keta had taken over the bartending duties from Alex. He had really grown in just a few days, much more outgoing as the crew congratulated him and Desaya on their plans.
Alex knew all these movies well. Could quote some of them verbatim, which wasn’t really the most useful skill. So, when he got the film going, sometimes he’d step out for a bit. They all understood what they were getting into - well, most of the time. He kept his mouth shut about things that were actually surprising, twist endings, all of that. Didn’t breathe a word about the chestburster. Did stick around for that scene, though. Not often you get to screen a classic with a theater full of people who have absolutely no idea what is about to happen.
He had warned them about the gore, at least.
So he knew there was ninety minutes, maybe two hours at a time where he was not needed. Usually he’d just go to the lounge and hang out, have a drink, chat a little bit. While they were close enough to a Human navigation beacon, he had used that time to trade emails with the Clan Mother - the curry had been well received, and trying to build out recipes large enough for them was a fun experiment. Particularly ones that used the dreaded beef. The last recipe he had sent before they lost the connection was for stroganoff, with repeated warnings about getting sour cream that did not contain lactose.
Tonight, Alex had a different task in mind. He snuck his way down to the little business office hidden on the first floor by the airlocks... Well, he just walked down there. Between the lounge and the theater, more than half the crew was otherwise engaged. He didn’t even walk past anyone. He sank into a slightly too small chair, slotted his phone into the desk comm, fired up the Obsidian security protocols and gave it a retina scan to prove it was him, then gave Eleya a call.
The ship had a dedicated FTL antenna for Tsal’o comms, likely refitted after the Empress’ brother took possession of it as it could handle the high level security protocols.
The connection went to the Sword’s holding pattern after about thirty seconds of handshaking. Instead of ringing they played a little animation on the screen and some calm waiting music. He was on hold, as the Tsla’o did it. That was fine, it was several hours later on board Eleya’s ship than the Starbound. He’d leave a message and she could get back to him-
Oh shit, she picked up. Eleya was in her room, per the tapestries he’d seen several times now, probably sitting at her dressing table. She looked a little disheveled, and had still been getting her jacket on as the video connected. Given the time disparity between the two ships, Alex figured that meant he had woken her up. “Dearest nephew, you must pick better times to seek an audience.” She even sounded a little rough.
Alex sat up straighter, suddenly quite aware of how casually he was dressed, not that Eleya was a stranger to his preference for t-shirts. “Oh, hey Eleya. Empress. Sorry about the hour of the call, I had expected to just leave you a message.”
“Then you should avoid using Obsidian protocol. It is very high priority, one that is generally important enough to be interrupted at any time for. Silver would be a good alternative if you wish to just leave me a message. Or perhaps use text communications.” Blue eyes drilled into him through the video link as she started to brush the fur on her face back into place with a tiny wooden comb. “I take that this call is not actually that important?”
“I mean... No? It’s the only one I know is secure-secure.” He had never gotten a rundown on the exact levels of their system, and this wasn’t quite on the same as talking about unwittingly being the host to advanced intelligence gathering systems. He wasn’t calling Eleya just for laughs, though. He had reasons. “I need some advice, and I think you’re the only one I can turn to about it.”
That piqued her interest quite a bit. She even looked surprised for a moment, ears lifting in a very subtle motion. “Very well, I am always willing to assist my dearest nephew.”
Alex’s eye was drawn to her ears, the piercings that marked her station different than her usual set. They lacked the chain, just three pairs of gold rings glittering with facets. He would expect her to take those out when she went to bed, but perhaps not. He didn’t have that kind of ear. Carbon did, though. “So because of what we found out on Arvaikheer, and some of the stuff that Kaleta said, I’ve been looking into what Sharadi has been up to. Not a serious amount of research or anything, but I was taking a peek at the reports he’s been filing for the last year, and you know, his apparent lack of movement from Katala since he was stationed there as the Director of the Frontier Region.”
Turns out he could just ask Empire Intelligence for stuff with pretty high security clearance and they’d let him have most of it.
“I am aware of the reports they released to you - it was with my authorization. What makes you think he has not left Katala Gateway station?” She was surprised by that part of his statement, stopping her late night grooming and looking directly into the video link again, scrutinizing her dearest nephew.
Surprised twice, in one conversation? She must have been out like a light. “The Starbound was parked there for forty weeks straight.” It wasn’t full evidence that Sharadi hadn’t gone anywhere, but he had a ship that was largely self sufficient and fully crewed. Why would he take something else if it was right there? Aside from the memories it no doubt contained for him, given that even Carbon had some fond things to say about it from her youth...
Eleya nodded along with that line of reasoning. “Very good. You are correct, he has not left the Katala Gateway after arriving there.”
“But he’s returning to Na’o to pick his ship up. Guess he missed it quite a bit.” Alex had been surprised that tidbit had been volunteered by the Intel agent he had been working with. “Set to arrive at Na’o Gateway station tomorrow, stay two nights, no return shuttle booked, probably because the Starbound will have arrived by then.” Pops didn’t know they were on board. He should probably have been able to put two and two together given that Carbon was returning to give a speech at the Naval Academy the same day the Starbound was to be back in Na’o. If he had been sober at any point in the last few years.
Eleya’s eyebrows raised in silence as she started to type on her console. “That is an interesting amount of information, Prince. I find that I am intensely curious as to how you got it and where you are going with this knowledge.” She did sound intrigued, shrewd blue eyes returning to him as she continued to type.
“I have contacts, and I am very nice to them. Plus, you know, dropping a well placed ‘well, I was talking to Eleya - pardon me, The Empress - about this’ every now and then kind of expedites things.” Alex had worked with about two dozen different Intel people on the Sword, and he had done his best to ingratiate himself to them. He had not actually name dropped Eleya, yet, but he had thought about it. Didn’t really need to if they were asking her what to release.
Alex was almost entirely sure he heard a very quiet laugh off screen.
Eleya didn’t react as though there were someone else in her bedroom having a little chuckle over a mildly funny joke. She blanched, eyes narrow as it turned into the start of a scowl. “Is it so?”
“No. I am just very nice to them, and they take my title seriously.” Alex suspected that was the real reason - and Intel had recently become aware of Sharadi’s fuckup on the Sword. The guy who almost got killed by said fuckup probably got a little more information than strictly necessary.
The Empress relaxed and gave him a little nod. This was appropriate for him, it seemed. “Very well. If you would proceed with whatever it is you are driving towards?”
“I know this is going to sound petty.” He wasn’t sure if it was good petty or bad petty, but he knew that Eleya would let him know if it was the latter. “I have been in contact with the Academy regarding the Lan graduation. Carbon’s been working on her speech, and it got me thinking that I didn’t really know anything about the shindig. I’m trying not to rely on Carbon or Neya for everything, you know?”
“It is a good path to tread.” She didn’t care about the background he was setting up here.
“It is. So I was talking to the officer overseeing it. Made sure my ducks were in a row. Dress code, expectations for the crowd, formalities - Carbon is so pleased that I took the initiative and found all this out on my own, by the way - and he mentions that I have a reserved seat. Our itinerary is to visit Na’o for the ceremony, then head over to Katala so they can have their discussion. But Sharadi is on the station! His daughter is going to be giving a speech, so I should probably not be sitting next to him given, you know, everything.” Alex thought that a very prudent consideration.
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She glanced off screen, annoyed at whatever she was looking at. “And?”
“He’s not signed up for it. Not on the seating chart. You better believe I asked if he had been informed of her participation in this event, and it turns out he had.” This rankled Alex even more than the idea of having to sit elbow to elbow with that jackass. “Carbon busted her ass to attain the title of Lan. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it is a big deal to achieve that, and they invited her back to participate in the first graduation ceremony in over two years? After the Cataclysm? He should know that better than anyone how much she put into this, and he just like... Doesn’t care? And you know, I am just like, nah, fuck this guy. This is bullshit behavior.”
Alex had gotten a bit hot under the collar about this. His voice sharpened as he spoke, eyes wide with outrage as he vented about his father-in-law being a shitty parent when even this little thing would have been set up with almost no effort on his end. All he had to do was show up and sit down. Alex was... emphatic about that, leaning into the screen, gesticulating to make his point, and finally tossing his hands up in frustration.
“I see that fire is still in you, young Prince. You are correct, it is a ‘big deal’ to attain these things, and it is an honor to speak there. I wish I still believed this was uncharacteristic of him. As you are aware, I am finding that my brother is no longer who I knew.” Her countenance darkened as her mood pitched down, jaw working slowly as she rubbed her teeth together in contemplation. “Have you discussed this with Carbon yet?”
“No. She... She’s enjoying herself. We’re just a few days out and I want to let her have this moment.” He felt kind of bad going around behind her back - though she knew he’d been looking at the reports and in contact with the Naval Academy - he hadn’t mentioned that her father was going to be on station, presumably to collect his ship, or having connected any of these dots to her yet.
“Yes, the long trip to Sol was quite a strange excursion, and the Sword of the Morning Light is a much larger ship.” She looked him over through the screen, head tilting just a few degrees. “But so far you have merely vented to me, nephew. What advice do you seek?”
“I don’t exactly know.” He had idle thoughts of just... well, a lot of them ended with him punching Sharadi for putting everyone through this. Felt good to think about, and he could certainly get away with it, but Alex had an image to cultivate. Maybe not refined, but he should have a good reputation. But they are aliens... “Wait, wait. Just humor me here: would punching him be a respectable course of action?”
Eleya pursed her lips and it looked like she was really thinking about it. Her eyebrows shifted up. She hummed to herself and then shook her head slowly. “Not without airing more personal business than I believe we want to.”
“Not even a little bit? Maybe if we bring up how fucked the situation on the frontier got?” He tilted his head at her, eyebrows arched.
“You cannot punch someone ‘a little bit’ and We are looking into what has been going on in the frontier.” Eleya got the Royal We out. Even tilted her head up to look imperious as she said it.
You know what? He could punch someone a little bit, actually. “I can slap him. That’s like a fraction of a punch.”
There was that sound again. A heavily stifled laugh that almost got away from whoever thought what he said was funny.
Eleya didn’t react to it this time, either. “I find myself tempted, but no. We will refrain from striking him in any fashion for the moment.”
“Hey, are you hearing anything weird on your end? I swear I keep hearing someone trying not to laugh.” Might as well just ask about it. “If not, I think the Obsidian protocol might be somewhat less secure than I imagined.”
“I have not, but I will have a forensic inspection of this connection run. There should be no strange sounds.” The question didn’t change her demeanor at all as she resumed typing on her end. “Now, to your advice... I do not yet know. I feel it is very important that Carbon have this discussion with her father, whatever the outcome will be. We have discussed her intent, to force his hand by approaching him where he has no way to easily leave. Having him onboard the Starbound may work just as well.”
“Yes, but the plan was that if he would not listen, Carbon would leave. Not so easy if he’s going to be locked up in here with us for nearly a day.” They could just go back to their quarters or hang out in the converted lounge, and ignore Sharadi, sure... “I just have this feeling that if it doesn’t go well, they... You know how she is. You saw how she was talking about this being his last chance. If there was the gulf of space between them, that would be one thing, but being cooped up with that asshole in arguing range the entire time...”
While Carbon had been hurt by her father’s reactions to her becoming entwined, her resolve to try and get through to him had been enough to draw her and Eleya back together to collaborate, and even have some healing between them. Something that Alex hadn’t expected to see. Determination had hardened in her eyes, the cold anger she had directed at her father for all but casting Kaleta out was driving her forward, in addition to his harsh words about their relationship... Alex suspected that anger would turn to wrath very easily.
“I do, and think you are right. If he did not at least attempt to make amends, or was actively combative like the last time we spoke... Well, you saw how she reacted when I denigrated you. He does not have a convenient source of weapons for her to steal, so I suspect all those years of martial training would be put to use with a touch less restraint.” She paused, leaned back in her chair and contemplated the ceiling. “How are you and Kaleta fairing these days?”
He shrugged. Dad’s Zeshen wasn’t exactly his favorite person. “We can be in the same room and ignore each other really well. It hasn’t been that long since, you know.”
“Fair.” Eleya sat up and squared her shoulders, leaning towards the screen. “Would you mind if I brought her into this conversation? I’d like to access some wisdom that only she has.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.” He was curious about what she was getting at. Didn’t ask, though. Eleya would just be cryptic until it suited her not to be, and this was something that should be resolved quickly enough. He did honestly think that they were basically one for one on almost killing each other. And all those bad decisions Kaleta had made seemed to be related to how much of a mess her life is right now. She had briefly disassociated when he had given her a polite formal greeting in the neural link, and finding out her motive for participation in that scheme to get rid of him had been depressing enough that Alex felt sorry for her.
He wasn’t telling anyone other than Carbon that just yet, though.
“Give me a moment.” Eleya’s attention turned back to her comm terminal, typing away on a nearly silent keyboard, humming to herself as she worked.
Kaleta showed up about five minutes later. Per Obsidian protocol, whoever was in the room had to secure the active terminal and allow the new user access, then ensure they could be present for it. She just had to set her phone beside the terminal and have a retina scan before it unlocked, then rolled the other chair over so they could both sit at the screen.
It had been surprisingly congenial. Alex suspected Eleya had told her to be on best behavior, but he wouldn’t put it past Kaleta to just act professional in this situation. They got her up to speed on Alex’s findings and concerns, his want of advice. She was not particularly pleased by any of it.
“Kaleta, I believe we know the root of Sharadi’s behavior. He does not speak it, but his actions make it plainly clear - he has not dealt with the loss of his wife and he withers for it. Has your opinion of this changed?” Eleya’s voice was far less harsh than the last time Alex had seen them interact. She was respectful, caring... As though she were seeking advice of her own.
Kaleta shook her head. “Nothing has occurred that would make me change my mind about that.”
“I have not asked you this before as I fear this question may be difficult for you, so please take your time in answering.” Eleya paused as though she were composing herself, which she did not need to do as she already looked as regal as she was getting for having been woken up in the middle of the night. “As you carry the last echo of Nova, I want your input on what she would do in this situation. How would she make her beloved open his eyes to the damage he is doing to their child?”
Alex had been informed about this, to an extent. Zeshen were supposed to know how their Aeshen acted well enough to make accurate decisions in their stead - or at least deliver an answer they had been given beforehand while they were still learning. Kaleta had decades of experience with both Sharadi and Nova. She carried their echoes, and was the last living Zeshen that had linked with Nova. When she would someday die, Nova’s echo was gone with her.
It was part of why Carbon wanted her around. Alex respected that, a living fragment of a parent stolen by the Cataclysm sounded... It sounded nice. He had noticed that Kaleta had been more relaxed since reconnecting with Carbon as well. Grounded.
This question was not relaxing. Kaleta’s pale lavender tail curled up from the floor, laid across her lap in a way that Neya sometimes did when she was feeling nervous, though the older Zeshen did not pet it to soothe herself. She nodded, closing her eyes. “She was a bright star that I know will dim in time, and I do fear seeing that happen. For her, for her child? I will not hesitate to turn my eyes inward.”
Alex had the impression he should just wait quietly, so he did. While he mostly watched Kaleta meditate on that question, a brief glance over at the screen revealed that Eleya was also watching him like a hawk, probably prepared to snap at him if he did something untoward like talk about being bored. He was bored, watching someone breath and think was not entertaining, but he could keep that to himself.
“Do you remember what she did when you disgraced yourself? Behaved like a barbarous wretch?” Kaleta asked, eyes still closed, voice rather distant.
Eleya smirked, a punctuated huff of a laugh coming through her nose. “Oh, I remember those words being thrown my way just as clearly as the chair that followed them.”
Alex was going to be asking about that later. The mention of ‘the chair’ made it clear what incident was being discussed here - Eleya driving that wedge between her and Carbon all those years ago and terrifying her in doing so - but he had never heard the details about Nova actually coming after her. He was curious, given that both her and Carbon seemed to be chair throwers.
“I would not suggest actually attacking him with furniture, yet.” The Zeshen’s eyes opened, and she sighed. Her face had changed, the neutral expression she had been keeping up so far faded, replaced with deep melancholy and shaky voice. The experience had been painful for her, even if she had done so willingly. “The main difference between the two situations is that she would find his behavior less forgivable. Nova would say their child needs support and love, even if they disagree about who Carbon loves. He has furnished her with scorn and indifference. I do not think she would disagree with the young Prince’s suggestion of a punch in the face, only who was to deliver it.”
“I suspected as much, having been on the receiving end of her wrath before. Thank you for your council, Kaleta. It is valuable beyond words.” Eleya bowed on her end of the call, as deep as was reasonable in a chair. When she sat up she turned her attention back to Alex, a toothy grin forming. “Now, young Prince... I think you should refrain from violence for the moment, but I believe that something very abrupt is what my wayward sibling requires.”