She waited while Geena nodded to Lexi, agreeing with the travel time assessment, before continuing, “Which brings us back to my Ostrieachian guests. The information I have is sketchy at best. Something is going on they are not able to handle on their own. They claim the problem is rampant piracy. Again, knowing them, their claim may or may not be the entire case. They’re hoping to get commitments for support from my other guests, although they really should have known better. Unless they can offer something worthwhile to barter with, well, altruism isn’t a word in the vocabulary of the Accord.”
“Even you, Jis?” Ron asked.
Jis sighed. “Even me, Ron. Even you. Would you send your Grammin fleet to help them? Hunting pirates is always expensive and time-consuming. My fleet isn’t large enough that I can split it and send part of it off on a mission without knowing what they would be facing. I doubt very much yours is either. My responsibility is to Ackalon. I would honestly like to help them out, but I can’t without more information than they either have or are willing to share. I have the impression that they’re not sure exactly what it is they’re facing. If it’s as bad as they portray, sending only two or three ships would be equivalent to a suicide mission. They have been claiming that commerce with other worlds has become impossible for them.” She paused, then thoughtfully added, “What they really need is a team of crack investigators.”
Lexi smiled as Urania remarked, “Well, that was subtle.” Ron laughed out loud.
“You want to hire us?” Geena asked. As Jis continued to grace them with her serene smile, Geena said, “You can’t hire us. You’re one of us!”
Jis shook her head. “Not this time, Geena. This time I’m the leader of a sovereign world who requires the services of the most creative trouble-shooting team known to the Accord. Besides, I don’t want to hire you. I want the Ostrieachians to hire you. It’s their problem.” She paused, her smile brightening further. “Of course, as an adjunct member of the team, I would expect to be kept informed of whatever you might uncover.”
She turned her attention to Lexi. “Do you feel it too, my sister? Whatever is going on out there, it’s more than just their problem, isn’t it?”
Instead of answering, Lexi asked, “How do you deal with this, this sense of awareness, Jis, day in and day out?”
Jis shrugged. “I’ve lived with it all of my life. I learned while growing up how to handle it. Mediating with the Rose not only enhances my abilities, it strengthens my control. The impressions I get are never as strong as they are when you are around. I first learned that when we worked together for Jadkim. This time, dear, the telepathic stuff you picked up is already enhancing the hell out of it. It’s like I have the Rose in my head. I’m having to exert all of the control I’ve ever learned. How sensitive to it are you becoming?”
Lexi frowned. “I do have the Rose in my head. Generally, I can ignore it. I mean, how useful is it really to have it tell me Ron is going to want a piece of chocolate cake after dinner. Mostly, it just bolsters my confidence that I’m making a good decision.” She smiled. “And sometimes helps me avoid making a bad decision. When you and I are together, it’s different. Right now, what I’m picking up scares me.” She looked at Ron and Geena. “We need to do this, guys. It’s important.”
Neither Geena, Ron, nor for that matter, Urania, who was listening in over the comm, understood what the Rose of Light had done to these two women. But they all trusted them without reservation. Totally. Geena glanced from Jis, to Lexi and back to Jis. “Then let’s get the Ostrieachians in here,” Geena said.
Chapter 6
The New Job
Once brought in from the reception area outside the office, the two Ostrieachian ambassadors sat quietly, looking curiously from Jis to Lexi’s non-Ackalonian team. If nothing else, the team’s hair color and darker complexions gave them away. Ostrieachians were not human. Of course, Lexi knew better than to go by appearances. Even Jadkim’s people, who were largely silica-based and looked like they had been chiseled out of stone, shared a very large portion of their DNA with Earth humans. These people were considered tall at four and a half feet, wiry, and fur-covered. Small claws. Pointy teeth. They were probably a product of natural evolution rather than being a Forerunner seedling race.
A hundred-thousand years ago, a race known to most of the Accord only as the Forerunners visited Earth and left with a large enough population of homo sapients to seed humanity on more than a dozen other worlds. Some, such as the Grammin and the Grake of Borgol, had their DNA modified so they could thrive in their planet’s less terrestrial environments. The Forerunners were generally believed to have gone extinct since then.
Ostrieachia developed space-threading technology less than a thousand years ago, seven millennia behind the other eleven Accord worlds. A couple of hundred years later, they petitioned to become an Accord member world. Within a generation of that event, they contracted what Lexi was terming “the Accord disease,” allowing their technology growth to stagnate.
Of course, it was true, they had significant issues on their world that may have distracted them. It was remarkable they hadn’t already destroyed themselves. Also, if the common assumption they copied technology rather than independently developed it was true, they may not truly possess the basic understanding of the science to take the technology any further. Still, at this point, they had had a thousand years to work on it.
Jis said, “Before I get to the reason I invited you here for this interview, I wanted to thank you for making the trip out to witness my ceremony. Everyone here comes with an agenda. That is understood. Sometimes it is just friendship. Other times it is, shall we say, more business-oriented. It was a long journey for you. While I think I know the answer, I admit I’m curious as to what you hope to accomplish. Still, I hope you are enjoying the receptions.”
Kalia ducked her head, and replied, “Yes, we are very much enjoying mingling with your other guests. Of course, we are greatly looking forward to tomorrow’s ceremony. It will be a truly historic event. You are of course correct. It was a long journey for us. We traveled far for the honor of witnessing the ascension of a new Plicora.”
Jis smiled at her. “I am very pleased to have you here. However, let’s be a little more blunt than that, in here at least. You have been feeling out my guests for assistance in dealing with your world’s problems. I know this. How’s that going for you?”
“So you know,” Denem stated. He flexed his ears in an Ostrieachian shrug. “I didn’t truly think we would be able to keep it from you. It’s not going well. I’m sure you must know that, too. The few who seem at all interested in helping are asking for concessions that would cripple us. Ones we cannot agree to.”
Kalia added, “We would, of course, have come anyway, for the event itself.”
Denem nodded at her. “Of course. For the event. A military adviser to the Council warned us our mission was a pointless exercise. I suppose coming here for that purpose was a long shot at best. No one is interested in loaning us part of their fleet when we have so little to offer in return. I don’t suppose you are? We intentionally didn’t broach the subject with you. We assumed you must have other things on your mind. Nor is your fleet any more sizable than that of any of the other member worlds. If you desire bluntness, I’m amazed you’re taking even this much time to speak with us.” He looked at the Aeolus team, and added, “More or less privately.”
“Frankly, and you should both have known this before you came here,” Jis replied, “none of the Accord worlds have a fleet larger than what is needed to protect our individual worlds. Fleets are expensive. None of us wants to spend the kind of money it would take to build and maintain excess capacity. If one of us were to send even half of our ships to your world, we would be leaving ourselves vulnerable. I suspect your military adviser knows that.”
“But your worlds are so stable, venerable even. What do you have to worry about?” Kalia asked. She sounded genuinely curious.
“T
he same as you. Raids by pirates. Pirate activity is increasing here just as it is in your space. Perhaps to a lesser degree. While our commerce has not been crippled, their increasing boldness is becoming a serious problem for our trading partners throughout the Accord. We know they have made significant technical upgrades to their shield technology, leaving them undetectable until it is frequently too late.”
“Interesting. My people didn’t realize that.” Denem looked thoughtful. The expression when worn on his people’s faces looked cunning, so Jis was giving him the benefit of the doubt. “If you can’t loan us the ships that we require, why did you invite us here for a semi-private interview? For that matter, why are these three people here?” Denem asked. His tone remained polite, indicating nothing other than sincere curiosity.
“I do sympathize with your situation,” Jis stated. “While I cannot send you ships, I can offer you something better. You were introduced to Lexi, Geena, and Ron at tonight’s reception. They still refer to themselves as insurance investigators, but in fact, they’re problem solvers.” She shrugged. “Sometimes the problem to be solved has to do with an insurance claim. I would trust them with the fate of my planet. You should as well. I recommend you hire them. Their services will cost you much less than a fleet, and I have no doubt will prove far more effective.”
“Three people?” Denem asked, sounding somewhat incredulous. “Are you serious? We heard some of the exaggerated stories circulating about them. But, really, what can three people do?”
“Exaggerated? No, I think not. If anything, the stories you’ve heard are understated. Remember, I was with them during the hostage rescue last year. If I was asking your question,” Jis responded, the smile finally leaving her face, “I would have phrased it somewhat differently. I would have asked, ‘Is there anything these three people cannot do?’”
***
The Ostrieachians refused to make a snap decision, excusing themselves to discuss the bizarre suggestion Jis made. They promised to have an answer, one way or another, the morning after the ceremony.
As they headed back to their rooms, Geena said, “Have a good night, kids. I’m headed to a bar. I’m meeting someone. I told him I’d be back.”
Ron smiled, “Really, Mom?”
“Yes, really. He’s a handsome young man in the Cardin Navy. He’s probably younger than either of you, but since I don’t age anymore, I figure I may as well start getting used to it. At some point, I’m bound to be the oldest living woman anywhere.” She laughed. “Something to look forward to. Besides, I’m pretty sure he’s a spy and wants to find out more about Lexi’s Zapper technology. That’s OK. I want to find out what his Navy thinks they know. Should be a fun evening.”
Lexi smiled. “Well then, have a good night, yourself. And Mom, it’s our Zapper technology. I invented it. It belongs to all of us.”
Chapter 7
Coronation
The coronation ceremony of Jis Boc Seckan was, as was to be expected, elegant. It was held outside on the vast residence grounds, looking out across the serene Ackalonian landscape. Thousands of chairs had been set up last two days on the gentle slope of a hillside, facing down toward the stage.
The weather cooperated, it wasn’t given a choice, with the sun high in the cloudless early spring sky. Invisible screens blocked the ultraviolet rays of Ackalon’s G2 main-sequence star. Other screens kept the field free of flying insects. For the benefit of those further back, close to a hundred larger than life-size holographic displays were erected along either side. An orchestra filled the lightly floral-scented air with stirring, traditional music while guests either gathered in small clumps or took their seats.
All of the women, at least those who were human, Lexi and Geena included, were wrapped in the toule-like material that composed traditional Ackalonian dress and was currently back in fashion. Men wore a knee-length tunic, belted at the waist. The rich, heavy fabric of the tunics were in bright, solid colors. They were collarless and left an exposed vee from just below the heart up to either side of the neck. Like most of the couples here, Lexi and Ron color-coordinated their outfits, both wearing bright green, trimmed with gold and silver. All three of them wore the King’s Marker, presented to them by King Han of Borgol subsequent to their rescue of his grandchildren. Lexi and Geena would have liked to have worn their Grammin shields of knighthood, it would certainly have been appropriate, but explaining those when the Grammin wanted to remain an unknown race would have been complicated.
Before the ceremony, Lexi teased Jis, saying, “You guys should have issued us a medal for locating the Rose. Does Ackalon have a medal like that?”
Jis laughed. “No, Lexi, we don’t.” She leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, adding, “Best I can do. A lipstick smear from the next Plicora of Ackalon. Wear it proudly.”
Ad Boc Seckan, a barrel-chested man, only slightly bent with age, stood before a crowd of several thousand. Of course, the entire population of around two billion was watching the live stream. In that crowd were high-ranking visitors from all twelve Accord member-worlds. Not counting Grammin, two of the several Level-Three non-member worlds attended as well. Lexi had to smile when she realized she was the only representative of a Level-Two world in attendance, not that she actually represented Earth. Like all of the Level-Two worlds, Earth knew nothing about the organization of space-threading worlds known as the Accord.
The ceremony to transfer leadership of Ackalon to Ad’s daughter, Jis, was held up for at least a decade due to the theft of the Rose of Light, the fifty-thousand-year-old artifact that enhanced the Ackalonian’s natural empathic and precognitive mental abilities. Lexi and the team turned the Rose over to its rightful owners about thirteen months ago. It was that brief meeting with the Boc Seckans that resulted in Ad recommending to Jadkim E’Kret that he hire the Aeolus Investigations team to locate and bring home Jadkim’s kidnapped wife and children.
The coronation of a new Plicora, the first change of leadership in sixty years, was a momentous occasion. It was also quite short. The orchestra finished a piece. An announcement was made, requesting that everyone stand. A moment later, the orchestra picked up again playing the Ackalonian anthem. From the rear of the crowd, Ad Boc Seckan began the relatively long walk from the rear of the assembly to the platform at the front. Two steps behind him, his daughter Jis and Wenachi Bon, the officiant of the ceremony, walked side by side. Most of the audience followed the procession on the holo-vid screens. Lexi was reminded of an Earth wedding.
Today, Ad wore the fist-sized Rose as a pendant on a heavy gold and platinum chain around his neck. His speech was the longest part of the ceremony. He thanked the representatives of the other worlds for making the trip. He reminisced about how Ackalon had changed over the eighty years of his rule and at several points got whistles and hoots of applause from his largely Ackalonian audience. OK, so they rerouted a couple of the capital’s underground subways, started a program to preserve some endangered wildlife in their arctic region, and restocked the oceans with a faddishly popular food fish. Ho-hum. From Lexi’s considered point of view, Ackalon hadn’t changed at all. The Accord itself didn’t change. That was a large part of its problem.
As Ad spoke, Lexi’s gazed veered to Jis, who was attentively watching her father. She didn’t know whether if was just a feeling, an actual precognition, or her sometimes overactive imagination but she experienced a small shudder. No, shudder wasn’t the right word. She felt a thrill. She felt as though she was looking at change personified. Things would never be the same. The feeling became even stronger when Jis turned her head and their eyes met. Jis gave a small nod before refocusing on Ad Boc Seckan.
“Now, my friends, it is time to leave the past behind us where it belongs and advance into our future. This solemn gentleman standing patiently next to me is Wenachi Bon, High Savant of the Order of the Rose, my good friend these last sixty years, and Officiant of today’s transfer ceremony.
Chapter 8
Sto
rm Winds
Ad took a step to the side as Wenachi stepped forward. “Today,” Wenachi began, his voice solemn, the tenor of his voice rich and deep, “we gather here to witness the passage of the leadership of Ackalon to our next Plicora. Jis Boc Seckan is, as you all know, the daughter of Ad Boc Seckan. For any of our off-world guests who may not be aware of how this works, Plicora is not a hereditary position. To become Plicora, there must first be a strong attunement with the Rose of Light, the artifact gifted to our people in the distant past. The abilities of Jis Boc Seckan with the Rose of Light have been certified at the Sanctuary, the premier institute for the study of the properties of the Rose. Indeed, they exceed both her father’s and my own.”
Wenachi Bon nodded solemnly in her direction, before continuing. He then had to wait for the hoots and whistles to die down. “Most commonly referred to as the Rose of Light, our artifact is sometimes referred to as either the Rose of Insight or the Rose of Enlightenment. Those of us who dedicate ourselves to the further understanding of it and its properties feel that both of those alternative names are more accurate. It bestows on the Ackalonian people an enhanced insight into the emotions of others as well as enlightenment as to what the future holds.” He paused, smiling. “It has been suggested that the more popular name may be a translation error from our native language to Ritue made thousands of years ago. We’ve been trying, to no avail, to get it corrected since that time.”
Aeolus Investigations Set 2: Too Cool To Lose: The Continuing Evolution of Lexi Stevens Page 4
