41:03:34 GrS
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Lyra woke Taz not too long after the sun had risen. They went out for an early morning bath in one of the private pools that turned into a very... concupiscent kind of soak, leaving them both breathless and ecstatic.
Lyra collected Tetris after breakfast, then she led Taz along a winding path that dipped down into a long valley where fingers of fog felt their way through thick forests and up another hillside. As the land rose, they passed dozens of terraces slashed into the slope to make fields hundreds of meters long.
"I saw these yesterday," Taz commented, his hand comfortably captured in hers. "What are they for?"
"They're oryza fields. They'll start the planting in a week or so. The soil here's good for growing varieties that can be brewed into wine and ale. They even distill it, into stuff that tastes a lot better than that fiery concoction Rendix likes." She wrinkled her nose and made a sick face.
The path was barely a road, only broad enough for speeder bikes to pass, and he hadn't even seen any of those. There were all kinds of float carts and repulsor sleds, but no proper vehicles that Taz could see. "Does no one travel by vehicle here?"
"Occasionally, but most of the clan keep to themselves. I did say we're a pretty insular people," she reminded him. "That's even more true for the rural communities. When they have to go somewhere they usually walk. If they need to leave the village there are communal flyers they can use. But most of the clan's needs can be met right here." She pointed to a cluster of buildings that lay farther down a gentle slope. "There are schools, a medical clinic, even a grocery market."
"That seems parochial."
She shrugged. "We've seen what's out there and fought in a galaxy-spanning war. It gives us a different perspective. The people here know how much more lies beyond Inusagi, but nearly all of them are content to let the galaxy move on without them." Lyra got a far-away look in her eyes. "I was too, once."
She led the way past houses built of stacked logs and others of post-and-beam construction with glazed tile roofs and whitewashed walls. Villagers came and went at a pretty steady rate. They greeted Lyra with apparent reverence, though Taz didn't know what they said to her when they passed. He got looks that covered the spectrum from curious to cautious.
"Here it is," Lyra said, turning off the street and surmounting a long, narrow stair of worn stone treads. Coming behind them, Tetris whistled a happy tune. He deployed his repulsors and floated behind Lyra until they reached the top.
The Ragas' house was modest like most of the others in the village, with immaculate white plaster walls and a sharply slanting roof to shed the heavy spring and summer rains that sometimes flooded the valley below. Lyra tapped in the entry code and the door sprung inward. The smell of dried paper and old oil-stained wood invaded her nostrils like it always did the first time she entered the house after being away. Next to her parent's house in Pratikaya, this was the place that reminded her more than anything of home.
Taz looked around the small kitchen they'd walked into. Despite the humble, traditional facade, the inside of the house had modern appliances— an autochef, freezervac, holonet receiver— there was even a charging port for Tetris. He plugged into it and trilled with delight.
"What did he say?"
Lyra smiled when she looked at her wrist link. "He loves reconditioning his batteries here. He says the power converter at the house makes him feel tingly."
"Tingly, huh? Probably just a short in his central processor."
Tetris made an unkind whistle but went right back to his happy beeping.
Lyra ducked around the corner into the room she and Allegra used to share. Her trunk was right where she'd left it nine years ago, tucked in the back of the converted pantry. Other than a film of dust, it looked like she'd never been away at all.
Aunt Subali. Uncle Shin.
She sighed, struggling against the threat of tears. Feeling the weight of the years and loss, she sat on the rolled-up sujon and rested her chin in her hands.
Everywhere she looked was a memory. Even the way the midmorning sun played through the windows brought Lyra back to her childhood. It really didn't seem that long ago that she was here in those last few weeks before the academy transport came to whisk her off-world to a life of Imperial service. Not that long since her every thought was consumed by grief and rage, and the dark hope of revenging herself on the Rebels who'd destroyed her life.
It wasn't even ten years, but it might as well have been a lifetime. So much had changed; so much more in just the last few months. Peering down the hallway she could see Taz, the Rebel she'd fallen in love with, poking around the kitchen and trading jabs with Tetris. A little smile lifted the corners of her mouth, and her heart felt like it might burst. The grief over losing Uncle Shin was almost unbearable, but what if she'd lost Taz, too? What if she was mourning the deaths of two men she loved instead of just one?
It's time to stop being a child and tell him, Lyra. The thought made her heart ricochet in her chest, but she pushed herself to her feet. As she walked out of the room she clutched at her sternum, as if that could stop the thudding. She took a couple of unsteady breaths. "Taz, I —"
"Yes?" He looked up from the collection of technical manuals Shin had stacked in a neat pile on the square table. From the living room, Tetris beeped an unexpected interrogative.
"Tetris!" she exclaimed.
"What about him?" Taz followed her into the living room, confused.
"Something I just remembered. When Uncle Shin..." Lyra chewed her lip. That day was such a blur, and so much had happened in just a few heartbreaking hours. "Before he died he said I should bring Tetris here and ask him about my family."
"Your family? What about them?"
Lyra's stomach fluttered. What would Tetris know about my family?
"Did he say anything else?"
She nodded, a dread weight dragging on her heart. "He said he hoped I could forgive him."
Taz was quiet, but intense. "Do you think there's something they didn't tell you?"
A cold shiver ground its way down her spine. Lyra's normal confidence drained away, leaving her adrift. "I... I don't know."
Taz slipped his hand in hers. "I'm right here. It's okay if you don't want to." His blue eyes were soft. "Sometimes it's better —"
Lyra shook her head and sucked in a tremorous breath. Tetris stood there looking expectant, if that was possible for a droid to do. "Tetris, can you show me... what happened to my family?"
The droid issued a quick succession of sounds, quite unlike his normal communication. It was more like an acknowledgment signal of some kind. His head unit swiveled and the holoprojector flickered, casting a directory of files. They were numbered sequentially, six in all. Tetris issued a steady, quiet, beeping tone.
"What do you think they are?"
Lyra shook her head stiffly. "Show them to me, Tetris."
The projection flashed as the first file opened.
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU
LOCAL SECURITY BULLETIN U87K-5542T-9RJ4
INSURGENT ACTIVITY SUSPECTED AT SAKOOLA BLOSSOM FESTIVAL ON INUSAGI
DESCRIPTION: Reports from local informants correlate to signals intercepts regarding possible Rebel attacks at the upcoming festival in Lankash. ISB believes known terrorist and Rebel sympathizer ARANE OREIDA may seek to disrupt the reception for Governor COR TOPHERVIN. Oreida is a known anti-Human bigot whose Partisan rebel group has taken direct action against Imperial citizens including abductions and homicide.
CONFIDENCE: Moderate
RECOMMENDATION: Increase security patrols during the festival and secure all entrances to the royal palace. Non-humans attempting to enter the reception should be turned away or detained at the discretion of the on-scene commander. Level 3 interrogation is authorized for detained persons. Invitation documents should be checked against registered guest codes before allowing entry. Anyone attempting to enter the reception with unauthenticated documents is to be immediately detained and subjected to interrogation up to Level 5. Use of weapon scanners is highly encouraged at all entries and exits.
file id: .0E-8C0BA9CB3D321C9F8F16B-9EA29
OFFICE OF THE CHIEFTESS, ROYAL INUSAGI INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION TO SAJOKU SECURITY LIAISON STAFF
Increased activity among the Tavit-wey anti-monarchical Asantu-sar in the past five (5) months leads our office to conclude that radical elements within the movement may stage violent demonstrations during the sakoola blossom festival in Lankash. False flag operations designed to appear as a crackdown by royal authorities may provide a pretext for attacks on festival venues and attendees.
Imperial security officials point to a possible connection between these reports and intelligence regarding a terrorist plot to interrupt the transfer of Inusagi's civil authority to Governor Tophervin. Uniformed security elements at the royal sakoola blossom festival will remain at current assignments and allocations. Covert security elements will be increased to monitor activities at the festival and identify potential targets for detention and interrogation.
Imperial security assesses the threat to be manageable, but Sajoku clans should consider increasing security elements at local Golden Week events. Clan leaders may consider postponing in-person attendance at the festival during the governor's welcoming ceremony.
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file id: .10-1BD47B21A13076D4056BD-C0665
TO: Clan Nimor Office of the Majordomo
ROYAL SAKOOLA BLOSSOM FESTIVAL SECURITY ADVISORY
Lady Semma, Lord Anish, greetings.
Advise reducing / eliminating Clan Nimor's representation during the dedication ceremony and reception for Gov. Tophervin.
See included bulletins from RIIS and ISB.
Unable to independently verify intelligence.
Some conclusions appear to be based on rumors and paid informants.
Consider reception attendance via holofeed.
If in-person attendance unavoidable, strongly recommend Nimor clan representatives depart palace at earliest opportunity following Imperial Governor's appearance.
Shindani Raga
RIDF Security Liaison, Clan Nimor
file id: .11-C090B62EA705CAFB490A-C6BA94
FROM: Clan Nimor Office of the Majordomo
TO: Senguru Shindani Raga, Royal Inusagi Defense Force Security Liaison Office
RE: ROYAL SAKOOLA BLOSSOM FESTIVAL SECURITY ADVISORY
Recommendation noted and rejected.
Attendance by Clan Nimor not optional.
Virtual attendance likely to be interpreted as sign of weakness by Clan Pindu, potentially disloyal to incoming Imperial administration.
High potential for loss of prestige among the Sajoku.
Per long-standing custom Clan Nimor will participate fully at the dedication ceremony.
By order of Lady Nimor, Majordomo Lord Anish will attend.
Though threat assessed to be low, Majordomo's bodyguard will be augmented with four-member personal protection team.
Security liaison officer will coordinate additional personnel with palace security.
Lord Manu Nimor, Chief of Mission
file id: .13-FCC34632C2429D57EFDE2-D72EC
FROM: Office of the Chieftess Lady Nimor
TO: Clan Nimor Office of the Majordomo
ROYAL SAKOOLA BLOSSOM FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE UPDATE
Majordomo Lord Anish required to attend urgent clan business in Nuryaka-To during sakoola blossom festival.
Per order of Lady Nimor, Lady Vela Nimor and family will represent Clan at festival dedication and palace reception for Governor Tophervin. No further action required by Security Liaison office. Mission office in Lankash will coordinate with Lady Vela for necessary preparations.
file id: .16-B4E3797FFE7AD2FD0D091-FD5E8
Lyra finished reading through the scandocs. She pointed a trembling finger at the date on the final document. "That was three days before the start of the festival," Lyra uttered, her voice shaking. She turned haunted eyes on Taz, and her body quivered as the terrible import of the holo image imprinted itself on her consciousness.
"She... sent my family to die. She knew the risk of an attack but she sent us anyway." Lyra opened her mouth as if to speak, but instead of words she uttered a high, keening sound; a cry of desolation and betrayal and unfathomable heartbreak.
A haunting chill pricked Taz's scalp. He hadn't heard anything so devastatingly tragic since the mourning howls of the Filvians when the Pride of Olminar delivered them to the blasted ruins of Vrast. Taz remembered the sharpness of that pain, the stark impotence, and his heart broke with hers.
"I can't — I can't," Lyra gasped, out of breath. Her vision swam with black spots, marred by a torrent of tears.
"Lyra," he murmured gently in her ear, catching her as her knees buckled. "Breathe, Lyra. Breathe."
She tried, but her body wasn't listening. Her mind was filled with images of Allegra and her parents, their bodies mutilated beyond recognition under blood-soaked sheets on cold, scratched steel slabs in the morgue at Lankash. Just when she thought she might black out, her body remembered how to respire. She took halting, robotic breaths between sobs that wouldn't stop.
Wailing her grief, she could do nothing but cling to Taz. Vaguely his voice, calm and sure, reached her through the smothering shroud of sorrow. She took another breath, then another, and over long, agonizing seconds, the warmth of his arms gave her some respite from the pain and the fury and the suffering.
"I'm so sorry, Lyra," she heard him repeat over and over. Tetris trilled quietly behind her.
Her breath was as unsteady as the rest of her, but she finally managed to whisper, "I'm okay." She trembled nearly beyond control, but she gripped the edge of the table and slowly reined in her anguish.
Taz lowered her into a chair and crouched beside her, his face drawn but with grim strength in his limpid blue eyes. Lyra clamped her hand over his, forcing herself toward calm.
Tetris beeped and whistled, his way of offering sympathy.
"Is there more?" she managed, barely a ragged wheeze.
"Lyra, you don't have to —"
"Yes, I do, Taz," she interrupted with a forlorn sob. "I... I need to see everything."
Tetris chirped a reluctant affirmation. His projector lit up with another blue-tinged image.
A date flashed on the video entry, a few days after the massacre. Shin was there, his back to the camera. Beyond him sat Aunt Semma. He looked agitated, his voice gravelly and grim as the recording advanced.
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"You sent Lady Vela and her family? My lady, I recommended that all of our delegates should avoid the festival."
"I considered your recommendation, Raga, but the Nimor clan could not fail to attend. That would have shown weakness to the other clans, to say nothing of the Emperor's officials."
"But my lady," Shin protested, "you replaced honored majordomo Lord Anish with Lady Vela and her family. Did you not... send them into danger without foreknowledge or protection?" He pronounced each word with the precision of a man balancing on an accusatory knife's edge.
"My brother was needed elsewhere. As to the danger," she waved an annoyed hand. "The intelligence was little better than rumor, you said so yourself. It was the duty of the royal guard and the Governor's security team to ensure the safety of the guests. We are blameless." She tapped her lower lip with the end of a stylus. "Lady Vela's death is regrettable, but perhaps it serves a larger cause."
Shin stiffened like he'd been struck. Only the back of his head was visible in the holo, but he looked like a man wrestling with deep sorrow. Barely audible on the recording, he said, "What shall we tell the child?"
"Lyra? Tell her nothing."
"She's overcome with grief, my lady. She asks why this happened. Surely she deserves some explanation."
Semma flipped her hand again. At the blurry edge of the holo stood Senna, wearing an inscrutable look. "Tell her the truth, then. Terrorists struck at the festival, enemies of the clan and the Empire. That should be sufficient explanation for anyone, especially a layabout like her. The sister at least had some promise." With a dismissive chuckle, she added, "Would that Allegra had been the sick one."
"My lady," Shin pleaded, raising his hands in supplication, "Lady Lyra is an inquisitive young woman indeed. Blaming 'terrorists' will hardly placate her. The truth —"
"Must never be revealed!" Senna snapped, moving into the frame as her hand cut an angry channel through the air.
"You would have me lie to her and live in dishonor?"
Lady Nimor looked annoyed. "If you're unsatisfied telling her part of the truth then simply hold your tongue. If you cannot do that, I will send her to one of the northern holdings and resolve the issue for good."
"Surely you wouldn't abandon her my lady, as you did not abandon me."
"Decide, Raga. Swear to your silence on this matter or I will send the girl away now."
Shin's shoulders slumped and he seemed to shrink in the holo. He bowed deeply, touching his forehead and lips. His voice was rigidly modulated, strained and miserable. "My lady orders me to silence and I, Shindani Raga, obey. I will never relate to Lady Lyra what befell her family." Barely visible in the grainy holoprojection, his shoulders shook.
"You may dismiss yourself, Raga," Lady Nimor said.
"Indeed. By your command, my lady." Shin began to back toward the camera.
Senna moved beside her mother at her expansive desk. "That droid."
Shin looked into the camera, then toward Senna. "SevenAr Fifteen? What of him, Lady Senna?"
"It was a plaything for those girls, wasn't it?"
"A companion and protector to young Lady Allegra and Lady Lyra, indeed."
Senna made a derisive noise. "Wipe its memory and return it to the Navata. My cousin will be starting school soon. Perhaps she'll apply herself more dutifully without useless toys to distract her."
In the holo, Shin nodded his head. "As you command, Lady Senna."
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The projection faded to darkness. Tetris rocked on his legs and made quiet, uncomfortable sounds.
"Lyra," began Taz, lips pressed thin while he stroked her hand.
"Whenever I asked him what happened, Uncle Shin would only repeat the news stories, that Rebel terrorists attacked the dedication ceremony." She let out a long, shaky breath. "He obeyed my aunt to the end."
"I'm... not sure he had any other options. Did they send you away?"
Lyra sniffed. "They wanted me to go to the royal academy in Lankash but I refused. I couldn't stand the thought of being in the capital. Aunt Semma relented and let me attend classes in Pratikaya. I boarded there, but I got to see Uncle Shin and Aunt Subali on breaks and holidays."
"What will you do?" he asked carefully.
She got slowly to her feet. "Uncle Shin betrayed me. I... don't know if I'll be able to forgive him for that."
"He suffered doing it."
"Don't make excuses for him!"
"I'm not," he gently insisted, touching her shoulder. "You know what a terrible choice he made. If he hadn't, it might have been worse for you."
There was a hard, unyielding ferocity in her copper eyes. "Worse than learning that my aunt ordered my family to their deaths?"
Taz faced her silently. The outrage in his eyes mirrored hers, along with sorrow and sympathy. "What do you want to do?"
"Get vengeance, for mum and dad and Allegra." Her face contorted with rage but her expression crumbled after a few seconds. "If that bitch was still breathing I might try, too. But she's dead. So is Uncle Shin." She started to shake. "They're all dead, Taz," she sobbed.
"I know, I know," he soothed as best he could. "I'm so sorry."
She cried against his shoulder until, finally, she pulled away and wiped at her tears. "I want vengeance so badly I can taste it, but what I really want is to have them back. All the vengeance in the universe won't make that happen." Lyra looked miserable, but after a minute the misery was replaced by the steely, cold face of an Imperial officer who'd been wronged and meant to do something about it. "My aunt is dead, but my cousin isn't. Maybe I can get a little vengeance after all."