“The chaos benefits Parthia, regardless.” Endymion continued disdainfully. “Those slaving bastards will raid the Frontier semi-regularly for new batches of people to put to work, both for their mining operations and to use in their planetary exploitation programs. They work them to death, and then just go and steal more people.”

“That’s terrible.” Arthur said with a deeply-rooted sense of something being wrong. He felt as if he should have been able to do something about Parthia’s actions, despite all logic to the contrary. He supposed it was guilt. The idea of humans being enslaved was in opposition to everything he believed.

At least, that was what he felt.

It felt strange that he couldn’t say with certainty.

A subtle compulsion soothed away his wonder about the matter a moment later.

“It’s the Humanosphere.” Perseus said resignedly while Arthur refocused on the Kidemónas. “All we can do is try to make our own slice of something better than the rest. It’s the most simple, and most ruthless truth of human existence: There are the powerful and the powerless, and there’s always a bigger star nation.”

“Unless you’re the Grand Imperium.” Arthur said with a core-deep certainty.

“Unless you’re the Grand Imperium.” Endymion agreed with a grunt.

Arthur looked around after they emerged from the long corridor they’d entered, and the conversation momentarily lapsed when he did.

The area they had entered was far larger and more populated than the one they’d started in, and Arthur realized quickly that it was some sort of ‘nexus’ point for multiple different arrival areas. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people filled the space even with the relative statement of ‘low traffic’ by Graecian standards, and he could see long lines of people with a wide and eclectic variety of attire waiting in front of dozens of gated customs stations, manned by men and women in the scarlet colors of the Ascendancy Royal Navy.

“Wow.” Arthur said with genuine surprise. “This is Customs?”

Advertisements played in a myriad of competing volumes and with a plethora of colorful and exciting holovids that reeled across monitors, along walls, and hung suspended by anti-grav motors across the waiting area. It was immense in scale, and seemed to be able to easily house several thousand more people, even with the crowds that were already present.

“One of the checkpoints, anyway.” Perseus said in a satisfied tone. “Asfalís has several customs areas scattered across the station.”

“How many people live here?” Arthur asked in wonder.

“A few million on the station proper.” Perseus said with a sense of pride that was nakedly apparent. “It’s one of the largest stellar habitations in the Rim.”

“Graecia has a lot of things called ‘one of the best in the Rim’, I’m learning.” Arthur said wryly.

“We aim to impress.” Perseus laughed.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Clearly.” Arthur said with a low whistle while he looked around, and let the ugliness of their previous conversation wash away with the spectacle. “Though now I’m curious about you two.”

“What do you mean?” Endymion asked gruffly.

“My understanding was that your division was part of the Royal Guard.” Arthur explained while the two resumed walking toward one of the distant Customs desks. “I didn’t expect to see you guarding a docking umbilical, honestly.”

“It’s a common misunderstanding.” Perseus responded without any sound of offense and a half-glance back. “The Vasilikós Kidemónes are tasked with the security and safety of the two Kings, yes, but we’re also posted to the most critical locations across the Ascendancy.”

“I knew that, and it makes sense you’d be aboard Asfalís as a general posting.” Arthur responded conversationally. “But the docking bays seem a little rudimentary for the Royal Guard.”

“What did you expect to see?” Perseus asked without offense.

“I thought I’d see some Royal Marines.” Arthur answered honestly. “Or even standard station security officers, especially given how little traffic there is.”

“Your guess makes sense.” Perseus said while coming to a halt—Endymion with him—and idly gesturing to the colossal area around them rife with noise, activity, and throngs of humanity.

“The Marines tend to focus on shipboard defense and security, and garrison the less important stations and stellar facilities; and we have normal police forces for the various municipal districts on our worlds and orbital habitats, including Asfalís…” He gestured over for indication toward where Arthur did, in fact, spy what appeared to be blue-uniformed police officers speaking to some irate looking people. “But strictly speaking, even though we technically share space with the Navy and other elements of the government; Asfalís and other militarily or politically important areas are firmly our jurisdiction.”

“How does that work with contravening authority?” Arthur asked with interest.

“We tell them what to do, and if they know what’s good for them, they do it.” Endymion said with a snort. “If they get lippy, well, there are ways of handling that.”

“Endymion likes to go above them while they’re standing there.” Perseus laughed.

“It’s about sending a message.” the senior Kidemónas said shamelessly.

“I can see the logic.” Arthur said with a laugh of his own. “Though it’s definitely a little vindictive.”

“Well, perhaps a little.” Endymion admitted with a hint of amusement.

“Thanks for explaining it.” Arthur said with a nod of thanks.

“No problem.” Perseus said easily. “It’s not like you couldn’t have found it out with a quick sweep of the HoloNet.”

“Better from the source, though.” Arthur said simply.

“Always is.” Endymion agreed grimly. “Too many idiots on the ‘Net.”

“Which begs the question, Arthur, as to whether there’s anything else you want to know before we part ways.” Perseus said with a gesture around them again. “This is Customs, and I don’t think it’s in my interest to push my surly brother too far.”

Endymion snorted at Perseus’ words, but didn’t deny them.

Arthur smiled at them both, and took a moment to seriously mull over Perseus’ offer. Was there something else he wanted to know?

He thought back to what he’d read, and then to Captain Larriman, and then looked up at the Kidemónes. He pondered over how bold he felt, before simply deciding to risk a question he wished to ask. The worst they could do was decline to answer. “There is one thing.” He said carefully.

“I can already hear the hesitation.” Perseus said with a laugh, and a friendly slap to Arthur’s wider shoulders. “Go ahead and ask, Arthur.”

“If you’re sure.” He said with a smile before proceeding. “I’ve heard that there’s another element to your force. The Myrmidónes?”

Endymion looked at him and sighed. “Of course that’s your question.”

“You’ve done your research.” Perseus agreed with amusement.

“Not enough, I’d say, but some.” Arthur said lightly.

“Curiosity isn’t always a good thing.” Endymion rumbled dourly.

“But it isn’t a crime either, eh?” Perseus said with a laugh.