Playing Polies
Proteros, Supreme Court Justice building. Late noon of the same day.
In the lavish, old, historical halls of the building of one of the oldest power branches in the nation. A woman walked through the building, entering corridors and gardens so luxurious it made people like Lázaro Rentería seem poor. Lighting even under the plants' pots, and decorations that'd make the last kings and queens in the SO salivate, the halls were still lackluster compared to her.
She had red hair, azure eyes, white skin and natural rosy lips. A good indication that she was a Túacan redhead. She is also short, but wherever she walked, everyone looked up at her.
“Miss Valyer!” - “Vanessa, good day!” - “Miss, good seeing you here.” - “Miss Valyer! What a wonderful day, eh? Hahaha!” - “Miss, welcome back! Hahaha…”
She ignored them all, only looking at them for a few seconds at most. But other than noticing her expressionless face, they weren’t affected. Smiles and contented eyes continued raining on her as she headed to the high tribune.
Vanessa Valyer, the Supreme Justice Minister, the ‘ringleader’ of the Supreme Court Ministers, and the most powerful woman in Lýmoca, one way or another.
She stepped into the wide room, enough for more than 100 people to stand with their arms spread. But only 13 seats were placed across the room, separated by a good margin, with booths to protect them, with glasses and individual lights. There’s also communications panel and lighting systems in case they need a bit more for reading or there was a shutdown.
Just as she lifted her double suitcase and left it on the desk, heavy and imposing. Vanessa Valyer looked at her desk, just in front of her chair, before sitting. She looked at her sides before sitting down like nothing happened, and she was just feeling lonely or abandoned.
Then, she opened the letter after taking a mechanical folder with multiple glass separators that glowed as she touched them, confirming her identity. She read the letter cautiously, passing the glass separators with one hand as she moved the letter from one to another with the other hand.
Previous letters like these were always a reason to tremble, but she was growing used to it over the years. Yet, few times did these arrive. After she finished reading it, she leaned her back on the chair, looking ahead of her with fully open eyes.
Then, having made a decision, her call, she took a few books from her desk drawers and read them. She was fast, as if she wrote them herself every day, finding information that made her face satisfied, and cunning. Vanessa Valyer nodded to herself as she kept looking, searching for flaws and hidden jabs she had to revise.
The Supreme Justice Minister could leave this to one of the 120,000 judicial branch employees, or a few hundred of them, and they wouldn’t complain even without getting a 10 credits payment. But they were too unreliable for time, too busy being busy saying they were busy. Of course, the occasional escapades of criminals across the country never ceased.
After a good 15 minutes later, with a brand-new note book, Vanessa Valyer checked the time before closing her books and returning them to their drawers. She also grabbed a small box from her double suitcase with a slit atop in the middle before sliding the letter in.
As the sounds of flames echoed from within the little box, emitting no heat, thin smoke, or a louder noise, she grabbed her note book and opened a drawer. She placed the note book halfway through the wood from where it was pulled and slammed the drawer back in.
The note book was slammed, with its fresh newness somewhat tarnished. She then stood up and walked to a small trash can and lifted it before throwing the note book below. Letting the trash can slam on it, she took her personal window out, extremely costly, and looked at the time.
Past half a minute, she lifted the trash can again and picked the note book before returning to her seat. She grabbed a mantle and began cleaning it from the dirt and little bits of trash. Just then, the doors to the room opened and operated the sight of a dozen people walking in, followed by guards and attendants, who smiled at her.
“Miss Vanessa!” - “Supreme Justice Minister.” - “Supreme Justice!” Their greetings were boot licking and loud, as usual. They saw her cleaning a note book and wondered if there was work this time. She looked at them with a casual expression, but that only made them more intrigued.
As they chatted and relaxed, the attendants, to each their minister, carefully asked and brought them their meal, drinks, and snacks for 30 minutes. They constantly glanced at the ringleader, waiting for her to speak to everyone as they ate, relaxed, and chatted.
At last, Vanessa Valyer shook her head, flinging her hair at her sides to free her face and ears from it, and said after briefly presenting her note book before her face. “It has come to my attention a particular nuisance. This one includes the massive disregard for our sovereignty. The Humane Key is at stake here, and the culprit, as you can imagine, thinks he is sitting above us.”
Vanessa Valyer’s gaze was firm yet compassionate, she spoke slowly, yet her tone was innately soft. She looked delicate, but she was the most ruthless one in maybe not only the judicial branch, but the executive, legislative; all 3 branches in Lýmoca.
“What is it, Vane?” A brown man with short black, trimmed hair asked her. He looked quite ordinary, with a regular height to further complement such ordinariness. Vanessa Valyer looked at him with the same eyes, but they became a bit understanding before she continued.
“For almost a month, we’ve known of the quirky nature behind the president’s new alleged political party’s president. A young man not even 19 yet was given the rule of such a political party, which currently holds a minority within the congress. How is that possible?”
Her tone sounded firmer, and she went on, “I have never abandoned that thought in my mind, so I thought about spending some free time studying it. However, as I ventured deeper into it, I became absorbed. This is not a move for popularity, at least not alone. The origins of this young man, and his past deeds, are clear but inconclusive, leaving me only with few options.”
“Here, in this book, there are many more possibilities, but that will be your task to research. There are 2 of the most important facts I hope are erroneous thinking from my Justice self. One is the possibility of this ‘murder kid’ being a spy sent from foreign powers that seek to wreak havoc in our country. The other…” Vanessa Valyer’s eyes turned cold, really piercing. “The current president is orchestrating a dictatorship where there is no one for the people!”
“Paws?” Vanessa Valyer looked at a young woman, one of the most accomplished at such a young age in the judicial branch and in the records of the Lys. The young woman in question had brown sand skin, long black hair, and big black eyes. Her regular height made her seem small in her seat, but not more than Vanessa, who was shorter.
“Yes, your Justice?” Jennifer Paws looked at the Supreme Justice Minister, awaiting her orders. Vanessa spoke with her eyes unchanged, “You will further research about the subject of this wide investigation, you have seen how the Courts and Justice works, so lead ahead. Remember, bring to me every piece of information you find, to me directly, and first.”
“Yes, o’Justice!” Jennifer wore a serious expression as she nodded, almost saluting. Vanessa Valyer nodded before addressing the rest of the ministers. Their new task had just begun.
***
Plastics Recycler Factory. In one of its training sparring grounds.
Fox and Nala Loba were at melee, facing each other as shins and forearms met, wearing specialized bandages as they went at each other. Their bodies were slow but precise.
It seemed like they were tired, with their sweat everywhere and their bodies breathing harshly, but it had been an hour since they started the demonstration for the newcomers. They would soon graduate, and nothing like a representative captain and ‘her lover’ to pipe their spirits down.
The showdown wasn’t an amazing sight, but rather, a learning experience. From the beginning, Fox and Nala Loba’s blows were all-out, with each hit making the audience cringe in their seats. But they continued for an hour, now sweating and breathing heavily, but not tired or injured.
Ping! A noise marked their stop, allowing the two to relax and breathe relaxingly. As they did, Nala Loba looked at him, with Fox returning the gaze after looking down initially. Her eyes seemed still locked onto him, still in the sparring session, as if stuck.
“That was wonderful,” the leading instructor for this batch, representative captain Nauer, clapped and nodded, bringing their attention to him. The newcomers cheered a bit and clapped before falling silent, quite disciplined despite feeling overwhelmed yet inspired.
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“Captain Nala, may I speak with you? A curiosity picks at my mind,” Captain Nauer spoke, making his first 2 words cause a roll from Fox’s eyes. He stepped back, still under Nala Loba’s eyes, and stretched his bones, making them snap.
Nala Loba’s eyes changed, blinking before resting, becoming indifferent and cold at full motor. She turned to Captain Nauer and nodded before walking to him. Her pace seemed regular, but almost slow, and gave a strange sense of confidence.
“Aye, what is that?” Nala Loba stood before him, crossing her arms before his chest, a few inches away. The Captain nodded and turned to lean on a railing separating small sparring areas. He was accompanied by Nala Loba, with Fox hearing from the distance through the noise from the newcomers.
“I was thinking your team can meet up with mine to continue during the following months. I don’t know, like a month. Until the next year?” He looked at her at the end of his words and smiled a bit. He added, “Since you’ll be missing one, going into the special tasks, and with the current climate, our teams might need this cooperation.”
“Is that so?” Nala Loba lifted her right leg, bending it to her thigh as she grabbed a thin bottle and drank fresh, cold water from it, throwing her head back. She was impossibly gracious, to say the least. Finishing her drink, she bent her leg again and kept it.
“But my members will be sent to accompany Fox. This is his first time dealing in matters, and he is a PSD special agent, but if he gets caught dealing with matters only SA do in his tour, it ruins PSD’s exposition sooner. There will be a ‘bodyguard’ for him, so we’d need more and more teams to accompany us. That is no place for special tasks, at least not to the peak of the global stability.”
“My team is also taking a rest from special, cooperative tasks.” She leaned backwards on the railing, folding her arms, and craning her neck as she faced him. Their faces were only separated by her bent arms and his as they looked at each other.
“The last time, we faced a hoog intervention, facing off for a bit. It wasn’t bad for us, but the next time might. What’s a little gold compared to the stability of the future?” Nala Loba shook her head a bit, keeping her thin eyes closed to caress her magnificent eyes as she shook her head. “It won’t do good to for teams. With how the situation unfolded a few weeks ago, it’s to remain low.”
“I see,” Captain Nauer’s eyes felt a bit pensive as he nodded, his chin on his arms on the railing. “Since it’s a break time, I suggest groups to keep training these kids until the next year, then. That Teon Butler spoke of is there too, you could take her off me, for once.”
Seeing Captain Nauer form a large smile, Nala Loba smirked from the left corner of her mouth, thinking for a bit as she darted her eyes around the place before nodding. She returned her face to him, “That can do. It’s been a while since I spent so much time in HQ.”
As Captain Nauer smiled at her words, Fox, standing farther away than before, patted his hands with his back facing them. His face, looking back at them over his shoulder, turned before he twisted his neck to feel some snaps and the pressure from it down his body. “Haahh…”
“Hey there, loverboy…” Nol, alias Wheel, walked to Fox and leaned over a pillar that is used to train one’s control over their force. Fox turned and leaned his ass on it as Nol nearly lied-stood on it. He patted Fox’s arm with the back of his hand before gesturing, “How many of these do you think will get to make a team with Teon?”
“Teon?” Fox repeated her name as he looked for her, finding her stretching relaxingly with a big buffed, slightly chubby guy expressionlessly bending her back with his arms pulling hers. Teon had a comfortable expression, although Fox could see sweating beads fall down his temple.
Grinning, he expressed curiosity, “What newbie team? With her capabilities, she should earn her status in an expert Green team. Why would she be in a newbie team?”
Fox faced Nol, who looked a bit hesitant. Fox asked while wearing a casual expression, but Nol felt too eerie looking at it to respond right away. “Is Nauer making her stay in one?”
“No, no, no.” Nol shook his head when he saw Fox’s polycoria eyes changing to 6 impenetrable black pools in total. “It’s from Butler’s hand, actually.”
“Hm?” Fox exclaimed a bit. Nol explained after cocking his head, “He actually put emphasis on her training. I think she might be… a candidate to become his student. You know, that often means the old Butler is preparing to become the old Butler.”
“Ah, I see…” Fox narrowed his eyes and replied with little reaction. Nol looked at him curiously before stretching his neck. “Huh? Is that all? No nervousness or jealousy from being taken away from you? At least feel contented for her, aye?”
“Oh, talking about the little ‘nuisance princess’,” Nol suddenly said as he looked past Fox and to a young woman with big black eyes and pitch black long hair. Fox smiled before turning his head, staring at Teon who walked to him at a quick pace, trying to hide her presence.
“Aooouh~!” Teon exclaimed before rushing to Fox upon being discovered. She hugged his neck dearly and rested, stabbed, her chin on his collarbone as she smiled her toothy teeth at his brotherly face.
‘What is she gonna ask this time?’ Fox looked down at her, and Teon looked up at him. She narrowed her eyes, employing her super powers to read his mind. ‘Bet you don’t know what I am going to ask of you. Hah! You don’t even know I’m going to.’
“Yo, Fox. Tonight is your night, go and conquer them left and right, up and down, in and out!” Teon cheered, actually making one’s chest feel encouraged. Her grin was all full of bravery as she wished him luck, “Never would I have imagined this. Hey, has the Ruvas contacted you? They took care of you once, you know?”
“Hmm, why? Did they contact you or something?” Fox asked downwards at the pig-headed young woman. She pouted before shaking her head, offering no word. Fox nodded slightly and pinched her sides, but she didn’t retreat yet. He thought, ‘Here it comes.’
‘Here I go, all or nothing!’ Teon thought to herself. She smiled, charming and cute, before saying in a coquettish tone, “Yooo, brooo… if you become a public servant, too… can you give me a few things to start my career later on? I don’t want to break my hands and sweat blood to get-”
“That’s enough.” Fox slapped the sides of her hips, making her feel like a thin, iron cable deep in her body from her nape to the middle of her vertebral column tingled nonstop. Right after, Fox smacked each butt cheek once before carrying her over his left shoulder.
Walking past the training ground, Fox left Nol behind, and the newcomers made way for him as he went on. When he walked by the 2 of 3 representative captains, Fox was stared at by Captain Nauer and Nala Loba. The former frowned a bit, although it eased quickly, but he kept looking at this scene with no one in particular reflected in his eyes.
Nala Loba, on the other hand, stood with her back straight and narrowed her eyes, slightly sinking her eyebrows with her body slightly sideways to see this. Her eyes slowly relaxed as she saw Fox leave.
Fox walked to the reception, where another young woman was working, and stopped there. Him going into the HQ like before was… almost too difficult, let alone walking out. He placed Teon down, who pouted silently. As she crossed her arms, before she remembered her strongest weapon against him and his vital point, Fox showed her a document.
“Eh? What this?” Teon frowned before taking off the blurry plastic around it. She found a few paper sheets still enveloped by a specialized plastic, perfectly readable this time. None of it mattered. Only the wide words imprinted as such to attract attention from the rest load of information below. It read: ‘Adoption Form’.
“Fox? This-” Teon looked up after reading them, tears threatening to spill from her lacrimals as Fox hugged her head, comically hugging her into his embrace. “I’m not too cynical to give you this for… being considered ‘highly’ and almost graduating. But I really have nothing else, so take it as my gift for those matters.”
“What considered highly? That nitwit makes me go through the worst hardships while training… although the other instructors always try to comfort me. Is that what you’re talking about?” Teon leaned her left ear on his sternum and looked up at him. She looked too damn cute.
Hit with such a critical strike, Fox rolled his eyes mentally and held her slender, femininely muscular arms, “No… but just keep working hard. You only needed honing to improve. Now, use experience to polish that thick head of yours. It’s such a gem.”
“Heh heh,” Teon laughed dumbly, contented with herself. After some more hugging, Fox grabbed her shoulders and held her before his eyes like a doll, her head tumbling a bit. “How does it feel to be a survivor now?”
“Just know that miss Teon Caolia will learn how to do business now.” She grinned, proudly announcing her new name, making Fox feel just as proud. Teon hugged his lower torso and leaned her other ear on his slightly muscular bod for full package comfort on both ears. “What do you suggest I strike for in my future business empire?”
“Mmm,” Fox’s eyes twinkled with the craftiness of a brother about to take advantage of his sister. “Get some good food supplying, acquiring, and shipping lines first. How much do you have in your savings?”
“Like 30 million credits, why?” Teon’s eyes sparkled. Would she finally get his help after teaching her all those boring stuff while she caved in his mega hotel’s suite he said the Ruvas taught him? Teon was excited!
“Go fuck yourself, kindly.” Fox was speechless for a while before talking to his adopted sister that way. Teon smiled, feeling smug. Fox shook his head before starting giving her a few words and tips. He wanted to make sure she wouldn’t be involved in messy paths. Although all he had to do was say which ones to ignore or not give importance to.
Once he finished placing Teon’s moneymaking mind in a good spot, cursing the Riverlye team for being so generous to give her their savings and belongings in their bequeaths, including Pheli’s, Fox went to his judgment day’s carriage.
***
Proteros, an important night. Year 1,025, 11th month, 4th week, 1st day. Late evening.
“Fox,” Butler welcomed Fox into the backstage. It was a rather wide but still humble and small display. Fox wore a suit, much different to the others he always wears, but also differing from those everyone else in this circle would use.
His sleeves were smaller but not tight, and his jacket seemed smaller, too, but it was comfy and didn’t limit his movements. In fact, it felt nearly as good as a uniform, which he wore under his clothes.
Fox looked at the oldie before saying, “I came as soon as I could, an important matter at the HQ. It was so important you weren’t notified, and it was resolved quickly, even though it was an important matter for a hoog-”
“Aye, I wasn’t complaining. I would be mad, too.” Butler lifted his palm and closed his eyes in a slow and relaxed demeanor. Fox jolted his head, feeling a bit weirded, but he didn’t form a train of thought about it. He nodded and looked at the spot where he’ll be entering through in 33 seconds.
Indeed, he arrived just in time.
There was a big red curtain where all eyes and flashes would aim at him. And the image-advertiser, Lesly, the vice president, was just about to speak his name after charming the audience with her secretary. Even though Sona, the unmatched woman, was beside her, the crowd were charmed at first by their smiles and presence, let alone their words and enthusiasm.
…