The Lexal Affair

by neetha Napew

“Transmit it to me. Then, I want you and Andra on that packet -- and that's an order.”

  “Are you ready to receive?”

  “Go ahead and transmit.”

  Nyk inserted the datacel into the vidisplay. The screen went blank. He poked the touchscreen but couldn't re-establish communications with Kronta.

  He ran into the corridor carrying the datacel. “Daya! Daya!” He ran alongside her. “My vidisplay conked out as I was transmitting this transcript.”

  “I know -- all our communications are down. We're working on it. This happens from time to time -- an overload in the relay station. It comes with being the furthest-flung colony. Come -- we should get you and Andra ready to leave. I've been working on her disguise. Follow me.”

  Daya led him into the dining room. She pointed to clothing of the sort worn by Lexalese workers. “I think we can darken Andra's hair. You can pass as factory workers. We'll mix you in with one of the tours and you can leave via the visitors' entrance.”

  “You're conducting public tours of the palace under these circumstances?”

  “Of course. We don't wish to give the appearance of being cowed by these threats. Everyone entering the palace is screened, so there's little risk. Now, I'll be right back. I want to find something to use on Andra's hair.”

  Daya returned and approached Janna. “Princess -- it's more serious than we thought. The comm relay station's been damaged.”

  “Damaged?”

  “Yes -- this report was relayed from one of the shuttles. The tachyon antenna on the relay station was sheared off by something -- perhaps an asteroid collision.”

  “Maybe it was shot off,” Nyk replied.

  “The thought has crossed our minds. The Communications Corps believes it will be several days before it can be repaired.”

  “Then, it's even more urgent Andra and I get on that packet. We'll hand-deliver this transcript to the High Legislature.”

  Nyk observed Andra and Janna standing before a window. They were conducting an animated conversation in a language he had never heard.

  “I'm not going.” Nyk heard Andra's voice and turned to her. She was standing alongside Janna and holding her hand. “This is undoubtedly the beginning of Vellod's offensive.”

  “Or -- an attempt to flush me into the open,” Janna added.

  “We must get that transcript to the High Legislature,” Nyk replied.

  “Vellod knows only Mykko or I have the credentials to petition the High Legislature. And, he knows my husband is needed here.”

  “Janna and I have a plan, Nyk,” Andra said. “You will escort her to Floran in my place. Once there, she will deliver the transcript to Kronta and plead before the High Legislature.”

  “What will you do?”

  “I'll take her place as a decoy -- attend state functions -- sit beside Mykko for his broadcasts. Vellod won't know Janna's off colony.”

  “But -- your safety...”

  “I feel safe enough inside the walls of the palace. Once the HL sees Vadima's transcript and hears Janna's plea -- they can't help but send reinforcements. As soon as Vellod's threat is neutralized, I'll return to Floran.”

  “Andra -- this isn't our fight.”

  “It is mine. Janna and I are Vebinad Academy sisters. When we graduated, we both gave up our family names and joined the Vebinad line. Sisters come to each other's aid. Unu Deva Feti, remember? Nyk, this must be why Destiny sent me here.”

  * * *

  Nyk changed into the worker's clothing Daya had procured. He walked from his chamber to Janna's drawing room. Andra was wearing Janna's long gown and belt. Janna had donned a female worker's costume. He looked at the two women. “No wonder they called you the Twins. What was that language you were speaking?”

  “Vebinese,” Andra replied. “All the finishing schools have their own private language.”

  Daya entered with a polymer pot of a brown material. “This is some of Mykkoin's finger-paint, Princess. Let me comb some through your hair.” She daubed the material onto Janna's head, combed it through and clipped her shoulder-blade length hair into a ponytail. Daya then rubbed some into Janna's eyebrows.

  Next, she turned to Andra. Your hair isn't as long as Princess's. I can't style it into the twist she wears...” Daya looked at Andra from several angles. She placed the tiara on her head. “It'll pass if no one sees her from the rear.”

  “What do you think?” Andra asked.

  “Amazing,” Nyk replied. He looked Andra over from head to foot. “I hope you know what you're getting into.”

  “Unu deva feti,” Andra replied.

  “One more thing,” Daya said. She obtained some makeup foundation and began applying it to Andra's right arm to conceal her black, diamond-shaped marriage crest. She picked up a violet marker and began copying Janna's crest onto Andra's deltoid. “That should be convincing from a distance...” She applied the same material to Janna's shoulder, obliterating the Lexal crest. Jana slipped into a shawl and pulled it over her upper arm.

  Mykko entered the room. “Unbelievable,” he said. “I knew you two bore a strong resemblance. Now I know just how strong. I'm to make my morning address. Janna sits by my side. I like the notion of her being spirited away while her decoy is beside me on a colony-wide broadcast. I've asked my speech-writer to be extra verbose today.” He crooked his arm. “Come along with me to our media center.”

  Andra embraced Janna. The two women exchanged words and kisses. Then, she slid her arm through Mykko's and headed from the room.

  Mykkoin's caregiver led the little boy into the drawing room. He, too, had been dressed in a rude Lexalese costume. The teenaged girl knelt before him. “You be a good boy, Mykkoin. We'll see you in a few days.”

  Daya switched on a vidisplay. Nyk watched as Mykko and Andra took seats. Mykko leaned and engaged her in small talk. The camera zoomed into a tight shot of Mykko and he began his speech.

  “This is such an odd feeling,” Janna said.

  “Come,” said Daya, “we'll slip you into the palace tour.”

  Janna scooped up Mykkoin and put a cap on his head. He pulled it off. “Now, now,” she said softly. “Mykkoin must wear the cap.” She replaced it on his head. Nyk followed as Daya led them to a lift and down a corridor. She cracked open a door. Janna stepped through and Nyk followed.

  “This is the hall of pictures,” a tour guide recited. “This room is used for important state meetings and dinners. The images on the wall are permanent photos of important events in the history of the Lexal colony.” The guide glanced toward Nyk and proffered a quick smile. “For the benefit of any offworld visitors, the image over the head of the table is that of our current chancellor, Mykko Wygann and his wife Princess Janna.”

  The guide gestured toward the long conference table in the center of the room, made of wood with a purple finish. “The table is made from locally grown lumber, and stained with inkroot -- a native plant providing the violet color -- and it's delicious as well.

  “Now if you'll step through the door to the right...”

  Nyk took Janna's arm and escorted her toward the door. The guide turned and faced them. “I'm sorry, you two and the child will have to wait here.” She passed her hand over a proximity pad. Three security guards surrounded Nyk and Janna. “These three weren't in the group when we started,” she said.

  One guard nodded. “We'll take care of them. Please step this way.”

  “You're making a mistake,” Nyk protested.

  “We'll see who's made the mistake.” The guards escorted them into a security office. The vidisplay in the office showed Mykko delivering his address.

  A guard captain was watching the display. “Our beloved leader -- he can certainly drone on, can't he? Today, his blathering is worse than ever.” The captain looked up. “What have we here?”

  “Potential security breach. They slipped into one of the tours.”

  The captain yawned and stretched. He grabbed a scanpad and presented it to Nyk. “IDs
please.”

  Nyk pressed his wrist against the pad. The captain looked over his profile. “ExoAgent... Earth based... What are you doing here?”

  “I'm here in an official capacity -- ExoAgency business,” Nyk replied. “I'm an envoy from the High Legislature. You'd do well not to interfere.”

  “You'd do better to hold your tongue. We're none too fond of the HL here.” The captain presented the scanpad to Janna. “And, now the little lady...” She pressed her wrist to it. He looked at the display and at her face. The color drained from his. “Your high...”

  Janna gestured. The captain nodded and looked up at the other guards. “These two are okay. Let them return to the others.”

  “This way,” the guard said, led them down a corridor and opened a door. He caught the tour guide's attention and gave her a hand signal.

  The guide motioned them into the tour group. “This is our last area, the Morning Room. Normally this room is used by Princess Janna to receive official callers. This is her favorite room and you can see her touch in the decor.”

  Nyk and Janna looked around the room. The tour guide motioned the group out and into a reception vestibule. She approached Nyk. “I apologize for the inconvenience.”

  “What is your name?” Janna asked.

  “Kovina, m'am. I'm sorry. I couldn't remember if you were in the group or not. Everyone's on edge lately.”

  “It's all right, Kovina,” Janna said. “You're only doing your job, and you're doing it well.”

  The guide gestured the group to the exit. Nyk slipped his arm around Janna and they walked out the visitor's entrance. A line of tourists stood awaiting admission to the palace. Each in turn stood with arms outstretched as a guard used a handheld scanner to screen them. Nyk took Janna's arm and led her to the parking lot. He popped open the cowl to the groundcar and flipped open the rear seat to form a child restraint. Janna slipped Mykkoin into the seat and then sat beside Nyk. “Do you think your disguise is convincing?” he asked.

  She put her hand over her mouth. “I especially enjoyed seeing the look on that guard captain's face.”

  “We have two seats on the morning packet,” Nyk said.

  “Two seats?” she asked.

  “Yes, for you and Mykkoin.”

  “What about you? Aren't you coming?”

  “We've only two seats reserved. This packet is filled with passengers returning to the homeworld from Myataxya. Veska tells me it's always full.”

  “I wouldn't know -- I've never flown on it ... I've always used Mykko's courier.”

  “I'm staying here. If Andra feels safe in the palace, so should I. Besides, with Vadima's interrogation, the HL can't possibly deny your requests for aid. How long should it take to neutralize Vellod's threat?”

  The groundcar pulled into the shuttleport parking lot. “Now for some play-acting,” Nyk said. “I know you Vebinad grads excel at it.” Nyk popped the cowl and escorted Janna into the terminal. He walked up to the podium.

  “IDs please,” the agent said. First Nyk, then Janna pressed her wrist to the scanpad.

  The agent looked down, then up at Janna. Her jaw dropped. Janna put her finger to her lips.

  “This is very delicate,” Nyk whispered. “She and the boy must board that shuttle -- as inconspicuously as possible. You have two reservations for Kyhana and Baxa -- they're to fill those seats.”

  The agent poked her vidisplay. “Certainly -- two seats confirmed. You may wait over there.”

  Nyk took a seat beside Janna. She held Mykkoin on her lap. The child grabbed for her hair. Nyk pointed to a young man standing near the rear wall. “I'll bet that's one of Vellod's men,” he whispered to her. “It's a suspicious bulge under his jacket.”

  “Perhaps we should put on a little performance for his benefit.” Janna threw her arms around Nyk. “Oh, I'll miss you so much!”

  “Please, Lydda -- don't fret. I'll be all right. Have a good trip and give my regards to your mother.”

  “I shall. I'll call when we arrive on Floran.” The agent made an announcement the shuttle was ready for boarding. “Good bye,” she said and wiped tears from her face. She gave Nyk a long and passionate kiss. Nyk kissed Mykkoin's forehead. Janna arose and stood in line for the shuttle.

  Nyk watched as the passengers paraded onto the polymer concrete landing apron and climbed into the shuttle. The door slid shut, the shuttle pulled from the terminal, nosed up and shot skyward. He watched it disappear, then headed to the parking lot and climbed into the groundcar.

  He scrolled through the list of destinations on the groundcar vidisplay and picked the shopping mall. The car pulled from the lot and headed away from the shuttleport. After he had ridden a distance he cancelled the destination and selected the palace. The car turned around, drove up the roadway to the palace and parked. Nyk walked to the guard station. Soon Daya was escorting him into the living quarters.

  “I didn't expect to see you again. What are you doing here?”

  “No seat for me on the packet,” he replied. “I think our subterfuge worked. Janna had no problem getting on board.”

  Nyk walked into Janna's drawing room. Andra was sitting at her desk. “Being a princess is hard work,” she said. “Mykko's asked me to greet a delegation from Gamma-5 tonight.” She adjusted the tiara.

  “You do look the part. You're absolutely stunning.”

  Andra smiled. “This belt is so heavy.”

  “I think that belt conceals a shield generator.”

  “Really? How does it work?”

  “Try pressing the large black gem.”

  Andra pressed the gem and a shimmer surrounded her. Nyk picked up an object from the desk and tossed it at her. She began to duck, but it encountered the shield, slowed and dropped to the floor. Andra laughed. “That's good to know,” she said and pressed the gem again.

  * * *

  Nyk stretched out on the bed in his guestroom. The doorchime sounded. “Come,” Nyk said.

  Daya entered. “Dinner is served.”

  Nyk followed her to the dining room. Andra was standing beside Mykko. “So far, so good,” Wygann said.

  An attendant entered and handed a datacel to Daya. “Via courier, m'am.”

  She slipped it into a handheld vidisplay and scanned the text. “For you, Chancellor.” She handed it to Wygann.

  He glanced at it. “Janna is safe on Floran.” He buried his face in his hands, then turned to Nyk. “Thank you for your help getting her offworld.”

  Wygann turned to Andra and took her hand. “It's such a relief to know she's safe. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to her or to my boy. I don't know what Janna's told you about me, but be assured I do love her very much. She joined me out of duty, but we quickly learned we love each other, and I've never been happier in my life than the day Mykkoin was born. I never forced myself on her, Andra. She had my assurances when she joined me I would never do that. She came into my bed willingly and eagerly. Mykkoin's a natural child -- we wouldn't have him any other way. You're a very good friend. I can see Vebinad Academy turns out consistently good work. I had thought maybe Janna was an aberration -- that I had been lucky with her. Now I see how very much alike the two of you are.”

  “Vebinad starts with the finest raw material,” Nyk replied. “Both would still be remarkable women if neither had set foot inside that school.”

  “I'm afraid there's more, Chancellor,” Daya interrupted.

  Wygann continued to scan the document. He looked up at Nyk and Andra. “Janna presented Vadima's transcript at the HL committee. It's contents are being disputed by the Altian and Deltan delegates. They're rebutting it point-by-point, and they've produced our news report of Vadima's coma. They're asking how a comatose man could yield such an interrogation.”

  “So, the transcript's been neutralized.”

  Wygann nodded. “It means we can't count on the HL for help. No matter -- I hadn't counted on them in the first place. What does matter is -- Janna and Mykkoin ar
e out of harm's way.”

  8 -- The Intruder

  Nyk sat in Janna's private office. He could see the moon hanging low in the western sky. Daya walked in. “Chancellor has offered you and Andra the use of Princess's chamber. We'd like the palace routine to be disrupted as little as possible by our ploy. We've informed the personal guards of our subterfuge, but the fewer that know the better.” Nyk turned and gazed out the window again. “Of course, the door adjoining the chamber to Chancellor's will be locked.”

  Nyk faced her and smiled. “Daya, are you ever off duty?”

  “I receive free time two days out of ten. It is an honor to be Princess's assistant. Do you require anything?”

  “No. How long do you think this Gamma-5 reception will last?”

  “It should be wrapping up shortly.”

  “I think you may call it a night, Daya.” She snapped her head in acknowledgement, turned and left. Nyk paced around the room.

  The door slid open and Andra entered. “I'm exhausted. All the concentration and watching Mykko for cues.” She removed the tiara and began unpinning her hair.

  Wygann entered the office. “Well done. Tomorrow should be a lighter day.”

  “What's on the schedule for tomorrow?”

  “My press conference. Janna was scheduled for some charity work, but that's been cancelled for security reasons.” He stood and looked out the window. The moon had set and only the sweep of the searchlight illuminated the courtyard below. “Nykkyo and Andra ... If you'd like, you can have transit off this world via my personal shuttle. It wouldn't be without risk. Vadima's transcript indicates Vellod has an old deep-space shuttle, and several Deltan and Altian shuttles are at his disposal. We're assuming they're armed.”

  “Might he regard an attempt to take the princess offworld as a signal to begin an attack?” Nyk asked.

  “He might. I believe you're safer in the palace. I'll be spending the afternoon tomorrow meeting with our security planners. Perhaps by then we'll have a prognosis. Did Daya offer you Janna's chamber?”