by Tony Corden
“Definitely the entertainment.”
The male reporter turned to Kate and said, “Miss Emerson, this is the first time you’ve come to the Christmas Gala on your own. What do you love most about the Gala?”
“I’m not alone. I’m here with my good friends, Atherleah and Ivan. I’ve always loved the Gala as that special event when I could be with my family and enjoy an evening with them. I realise now that I was looking at everything through the lenses my parents held up in front of my eyes. I’m looking forward to seeing this Gala with my own eyes and making my own memories. I don’t think I’ll enjoy it as much, but at least my reaction will be more honest.”
“Thank you both for sharing with us.”
At that, the two reporters stepped back to conclude the interview. Ivan went still at the snub to Leah, and might have stepped after them except Leah placed her hand on his arm and said, “Chill Ivan, I’m sure they have their orders from higher up.”
The next three sets of reporters continued to ignore Leah and only talked with Ivan and Kate. The reporters in the second to last were from the premier Chinese news world CGNE or 中国全球新闻与娱乐. The woman stepped forward as the three approached and after a shallow bow, she said, “Greetings Ivan, Atherleah and Paris. Atherleah, your dress emphasises your Chinese heritage, how important is this heritage to you?”
After the reporter was identified by Gèng, Leah said, “I’m a child of three worlds Lìjiā. My father is a tenth generation Australian who still loves everything Irish, and my mother was from Xi’an in the Shaanxi Province. My parents taught me to appreciate who I was and where I came from without denying myself the opportunity to be myself and to love whatever comes my way, no matter how different it seems. I value my Chinese heritage because it shapes both who I am and who I will be.”
Lìjiā looked briefly at both Ivan and Kate before saying, “Ivan, Paris, please forgive me focussing on Atherleah, but she is very popular in China.”
Kate said, “That’s no problem at all. Some of the other reporters have ignored her completely.”
Lìjiā looked as if she wanted to pursue Kate’s reply but instead said, “Atherleah, you said you were from three worlds. What is the third?”
“Lìjiā, like most countries, Australia’s cultural identity doesn’t truly define everybody but is a synthesis of the numerous microcultures from which it is formed. I grew up in one of Australia’s negative tax communities, it shaped my understanding of family, honour, and community just as much as my mother’s ethnicity and her faith did.”
Lìjiā looked around and saw that her time was up and reluctantly stepped back to let the three go forward. The final pair of reporters ignored Leah, and neither Ivan nor Kate spoke of anything substantial before stepping away. With Leah in the middle, the three stepped toward the main auditorium. Gèng said, “How do you wish to be announced? Leah, Atherleah, Atherleah Carroll, Miss Carroll or Ms Carroll?”
“Atherleah.”
As they stepped into the opening at the top of the stairway, a small chime rang, and Leah could hear Gèng repeat their names sub-vocally. “Colonel Ivan Alexeyev, Atherleah, and Katherine Emerson.”
Atherleah turned to Ivan and raised an eyebrow and said, “Colonel?”
He gave her a grin and said, “I used to be Naval Infantry.”
Leah turned to look over the room. It was modelled after the Grand Ballroom in Vienna’s City Hall, although it was more extensive. Gold and silver Christmas trees were scattered around, and there was an abundance of metallic tinsel everywhere. Most of the three thousand guests had arrived, and the floor was a sea of mingling people. As well as the guests, Leah could see hundreds of wait-staff moving through the room with trays of food and drink. The interviews had been timed to give each group of guests just enough time to descend the stairs alone. As they made their way down, Leah could see a small group of people waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Kate said, “The one in the lemon chiffon is my mother, Julie. Dad’s not there but you know my cousin Tedrick. Next to him in the light silver is his wife, Lois. I don’t think he’ll recognise you as Charlotte.”
Leah smiled and said softly, “Oh, I’m sure he will.”
When they reached the last step, Julie Emerson stepped forward and said, “Ivan, it is so good to see you. I’m so glad Meredith suggested you join us this year. I’m sorry Gashka was unable to come, and I see you’ve brought Atherleah instead. It would have been better I think if you’d let me know who your guest was going to be so I could have planned accordingly.”
Ivan said, “Thank you for the invite. It was a last minute decision to accept Meredith’s kind offer, and some things slipped through the cracks. I hope you will forgive me.”
Julie’s mouth said, “Of course,” but her eyes made it clear he was never going to be invited to anything again if she had a say in it.
Julie turned to Kate and said, “Really, dear. I’m sure I suggested you wear something lighter. That colour clashes more than a little with your eyes. Why don’t you duck home and change? I’ll have Mr Peterson drop something off for you.”
“I’m fine, thank you, mother. I like this colour.”
Julie’s eyes tensed a little at the rebellion and said, “Paris Katherine Emerson, I’m afraid I must insist. Go and change!”
Kate recognised the use of her full name in that tone as one of the obedience triggers her parents had used throughout her life and especially since they’d taken control of her AI implant. She took a deep breath, and pushing down her anger she said, “Julianne Margaret Emerson, I’m very comfortable in this dress, and it matches my two friends.”
Julie’s eyes narrowed even further before she turned to Leah and said, “Atherleah, I’ve heard a lot about you. As I was saying to Ivan, I do wish you had given us a little warning. I’m finding it impossible to seat you where you deserve at this late stage.”
“That’s quite all right Jules. Ivan was saying we’d be at the main table with you, John and the Kodomans. I can’t think of a better place to be, and I understand that moving me at this late stage, especially after I’ve already got the ticket with the seating chart, would seem a mite churlish and even unfriendly to anyone who found out about it. I’m certain some of them would get the wrong idea.”
Before Julie could respond, Leah looked at Tedrick and said, “Hello Teddy, or was it, Ricky you preferred, either way, it is good to see you again. I’m glad to see you survived your little flying lesson.”
Tedrick stared and then his face turned white before he suddenly disappeared. Leah looked at Julie and said, “Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned his little aerial stunt. We’d best let you see to your other guests. I’m looking forward to maybe catching up with John before the night is out.”
As they moved off, Leah saw Lois disappear. Kate said, “Now they’ll know you are Charlotte. When are you hoping to confront Thad?”
“Sooner rather than later would suit me. I’m not really enjoying this very much. Christmas for us was always fairly small. It was always more about Christ than all this celebration. I feel a little uneasy using this event to sow discord instead of peace.”
Kate said, “It’s never had any faith connotations for me. Christmas was always about holidays, family, freedom from school and presents, lots of presents. I’d probably be offended if it ever became a religious event.”
“Why?”
“I think it would ruin it for me. I’d feel guilty and hypocritical because I don’t believe in God, and then the one really happy day each year wouldn’t be here anymore.”
Ivan joined the conversation as the three moved deeper into the room. People shifted slightly as they approached to minimise any chance of Leah, Ivan or Kate joining their group. A waiter approached and offered them some canapés. They all took one of the small appetisers and Leah was first to take a bite. Gèng said, “There is malware in the food, but I have isolated it: it will have no effect. I suggest you warn the others, although I suspect their
security suites should have picked it up.”
Leah subvocalised, “You tell them because I don’t know who is listening. It is possible there are millions of people watching and listening in, particularly if Spectator is on board.”
A moment later Kate nodded but Ivan frowned for a moment before giving a curt nod. Gèng said, “Ivan’s security didn’t pick up on it straight away. He’s surprised it took so long as his military security should have been faster. He says a log of the attack will be sent to the GU and they don’t appreciate their officers, even their ex-officers, being attacked.”
Leah responded just to Gèng, “I’m surprised it was so blatant.”
The three continued to move through the room until Kate carefully touched Leah’s arm and said, “There he is. Thad’s with Dad, Karine, and Uncle Frank.”
Leah turned and after a very brief moment of hesitation, began walking toward a group of six which included the three Emerson men, an older couple, and a young woman Leah recognised as Thad’s oldest sister. Karine was the first to notice their approach and made a sharp comment which caused the group to turn and look at Leah. As she approached, the older couple moved slightly to let them join the group, causing John Emerson to frown.
Leah turned to the couple and said, “Hello, my name is Atherleah. I’ve already met Frank and Thad, and I recognise both Karine and John over there.”
Before the couple could respond with an introduction, John said, “You’ve a nerve coming here. I don’t know how you got in, but this is my wife’s Gala event, and I’d appreciate it if you left.”
“I’m sure you would, John but you know as well as I do that millions are watching us at the moment. They are maybe even listening in. Even you can’t afford too much bad publicity. I have a valid invitation, properly paid for and I’m not causing a ruckus, so why don’t you settle down and have a nice, polite conversation? I believe you know my friends, Ivan and Katherine.”
John turned to Katherine and said, “Paris, I’m disappointed you decided to arrive late, and with people you know I disapprove of. It would have been better if you were her standing with your family and welcoming our guests from the beginning.”
“Maybe, Dad, but then how would I have been able to support my friend Atherleah?”
“Paris Katherine Emerson, your family comes before friends. Go and join your mother!”
Katherine went very still when her father used the tone and code phrase. She said, “Mr Emerson, I am an adult and I plan on deciding what my own priorities from now on.”
John’s eyes narrowed, and he said, “If that is what you want, then so be it. I expect you to be packed and out of my house by ten tomorrow morning. Don’t take anything that isn’t owned by you.”
Katherine turned pale. Leah interrupted and said, “Wow, John, you certainly live up to the hype. Teddy said Frank was tough and Frank said you were way tougher than him. He said you had no mercy and I believe it after hearing you talk to your own daughter like that. It’s disturbing but it certainly shows that Frank knows you well. But if I’m totally honest, it doesn’t really mean much because Little Ricky is home crying because he’s afraid of heights and the last time I saw Frankie here, his brains were splattered all over a wall. If they’re the benchmarks for your high rating, then it isn’t very high. Why even Thad here couldn’t do anything. He promised he would get justice for Frank, but all he can do now is stand there staring like a big silent dummy.”
Leah stepped forward until she was less than a step away from Thad and then looking up into his eyes she said, “Are you getting a good look, Thad? I thought my image was burned into your brain by now. I thought Frank said when you saw me next you were supposed to kill me as painfully as you could. Well, here I am Thad. What are you going to do?”
Thad’s hands shot out and grabbed Leah around the neck. He began to squeeze as he lifted her toward him. Leah clamped her hands on his forearms to take most of the weight off her neck. She’d been expecting something but she hadn’t anticipated the ferocity of the attack. She’d told Ivan and Kate not to interfere with whatever happened because she couldn’t come to any harm. Even so, Kate couldn’t help crying out, “Thad, what are you doing?”
Thad turned from glaring at Leah, who was now just inches from his face and looked at Kate before turning back to Leah. His eyes opened in sudden recognition and then went blank. He held her just in front of his face for about ten seconds and then disappeared, dropping Leah. Kate disappeared immediately, and Ivan stepped forward to catch Leah around the waist before she collapsed.
John said, “Karine, go attend to Thaddeus.”
Leah took a breath as Karine disappeared and looked up to see John examining her. He said, “You should be careful what you say, Atherleah. You are fortunate that no harm can come to you at the Gala.”
Leah smiled and said, “Not physically, Johnny boy, but damage can be done. You cast your daughter out of the family home on live feed. How are you going to spin that? Your son has an uncontrollable temper. How are you going to spin that? I told Frank I’d hunt him down, but he’s really only ever been a stepping stone for me to get to you, John.”
“Are you really declaring a feud on a live feed, Atherleah? Among enlightened people these things are usually discussed in private. Why would you show your dirty laundry here at the Gala? Have you no sense of propriety or decency? We are here to celebrate a world at peace, and you want conflict. Let me explain something that you have unfortunately not have picked up, things your washed out father and your immigrant mother failed to teach you about the civilised world. Here we settle our differences without threat and bravado, without needless violence or crass innuendo. We discuss things hoping to find some common ground. If that doesn’t work, we find non-destructive ways to come to an agreement through compromise, tolerance and openness.”
“John, my washed out father taught me to stand up to bullies and to always act with honour whether I’m being watched or not. He also explained that peace sometimes can only come through conflict. My immigrant mother taught me that compromise at the expense of truth leads to corruption. Tolerance at the expense of integrity leads to oppression and openness at the expense of kindness leads to humiliation. I’ve just seen how your enlightened, civilised world works. You throw one daughter out of your home while your son attacks an unarmed woman.”
“Not so. I have disciplined a wilful child according to the law, and my son was taunted and harassed until he snapped. I will speak with him and probably have to get him some counselling, but it was you who provoked his behaviour by bringing a recreational gaming conflict into the public arena. Trust me when I say that the world will see you as the troublemaker here, not me. Now, I have much better things to do than talk with a fractious child.”
At that, John walked off, quickly followed by Frank. Leah had been hoping to keep John talking until she heard from Kate, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Ivan had an amused look on his face. When Leah asked him about it, he said, “This is fun. Who should we talk to next? Every time we talk to a group, some of them disappear.”
“I’m happy to leave now, Ivan. Confronting Meredith might be fun, but it won’t really achieve anything, and it might be counterproductive in the end.”
“You are probably right. Leaving on a high note is a good idea. Thank you for the evening, short though it’s been. The entertainment I can always watch at home, and it never makes sense to eat a virtual meal no matter who coded it.”
Gèng said, “I suggest you stay for little longer, Leah. Each of the people who were at the Ascendant are here. It will be useful to know who they interact with. The feed doesn’t cover the whole of the room. Getting Spectator on board was a good idea because people have been able to enter the Gala and zoom in and out looking for their favourite people. Even without more conflict, they are attracting a lot of viewers.”
Leah said, “Ivan, Gèng has encouraged me to stay for a little longer. Would you mind anothe
r walk around the room?”
“It’s OK. I’ve also been given some orders. I’ve been ordered to sample some more of this lovely food to see if I was intentionally targeted before.”
Ivan and Leah spent the next twenty minutes wandering the floor. In that time, Leah was able to observe five of the six people who were with Nathan and Meredith. Gèng noted the people they were with and began researching the connections. A chime sounded and everyone heard the announcement for guests to find their places in the main dining room, in preparation for the dinner.
Leah said, “Gèng, have you heard anything from Kate or Thad?”
“No. Reed, however, is in the server and has found where the location data is kept but hasn’t yet succeeded in gaining access. Reed says that since you arrived at the Gala, there has been a sudden increase in people registering to play. When Reed knows her location, you will need to log in so an adjacent starting position can be assigned.”
Leah said, “Should I start the process?”
“No. Reed wants the location before you enter Survival.”
“I’d finished here, but I’ll go have a few words with Nathan. If the increase of players is his move, then I think he’ll want to gloat.”
Leah let Ivan know she wanted to have a few words with the Kodomans. He held out his arm to Leah and led her into the dining room. The room was similar in style to auditorium although the shape was different. Instead of a rectangle, it was a semicircle with a large semicircular raised stage at the centre of the straight edge. Tables were arranged around the stage with those further away lifted slightly on elevated tiers so everyone could see the stage.
Ivan and Leah had been given seats on the first level in the centre. Each circular table sat ten guests and was designed to unfold into a semicircle when performances were on. Meredith and Nathan were already at the table when Leah and Ivan arrived. The place-cards had Ivan next to Meredith and Leah on the other side of Ivan. As they took their seats, Leah said, “Good evening Nate, hello Merry. I want to thank you so much for the invitation.”
