The Lexal Affair

by neetha Napew

  “Would you go back to Lexal?”

  “I would. I know Janna's safe. I have no idea what happened to Mykko.”

  “It was remarkable. After we left the palace, Wygann's bodyguards got him into a skimmer. Vellod's forces, with Altian reinforcements, were too much for the palace guard to hold off and overran the place.

  “Wygann declared martial law and formed a government-in-exile. He exhorted the Lexalese people to rise up and throw off this alien infection that had afflicted his world. The people came out in droves.

  “His supporters took over the communications facility. He recruited over the vidphones, and Janna gave encouragement from her exile in Floran City. The Lexalese people were driven into a fury of outrage over the actions of Vellod.

  “He formed an army of citizens armed with kitchen knives, wrenches, farm tools -- even sticks and rocks. A mob of more than a half million Lexalese citizens swarmed over the palace. Many were shot and killed, and many more were injured. Wygann himself was wounded, but he's expected to recover. His supporters found and decapitated Vellod, Vadima and his henchmen. Lexal erupted into a spontaneous celebration.

  “The audacity of the Altians to attack fellow citizens turned the HL against them, and the legislature voted to authorize sending an expedition to Lexal to keep the peace. Wygann said they were not welcome.”

  “He turned them down?”

  “Yes. Wygann said the Lexalese need no outside help to preserve their security, and any HL forces would receive the same as Vellod got. He is scheduled to make a major address tonight, and it will be broadcast across the entire hegemony.”

  * * *

  Nyk stepped from the tubecar platform an took the lift to the 353rd floor apartment he had shared with Senta. He scanned his wrist and the door slid open. Senta was sitting at a vidisplay. “It's handy you've kept this apartment,” he said. “I thought you planned to turn it back to Central Admin after moving the labs to Sudal.”

  “I still spend time in Floran City -- meetings and all.”

  “And the occasional assignation.”

  “I thought we were observing a truce, Nyk.”

  “Yes -- you're right, Senta. I'm sorry.”

  “How's Andra tonight?”

  “She's doing well.”

  “I'll go over there and spend time with her.”

  “You two can watch Wygann's speech.”

  * * *

  Nyk sat eating a cold dinner package. The vidisplay signaled a call. He answered with his wristscan and saw Janna. “Greetings from the palace, or what's left of it.”

  “I'm glad to see you home. I'm planning on watching your husband's address.”

  “I wanted to call to thank you personally for all you did. Is Andra around?”

  “Andra's in the clinic. She sustained a rather serious wound.”

  Janna looked down. “Will she be all right?”

  “Yes,” Nyk replied. “She'll make a full recovery.”

  “Thank goodness. If anything had happened to her... I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.”

  “Janna -- Andra wanted me to tell you -- Unu Deva Feti.”

  Janna closed her eyes and nodded. “So many did their duty and paid the price. We lost so many loyal staff and supporters. We had a hundred and twenty-seven members of the palace staff and guard killed in the initial assault. Daya is dead.”

  “Daya? Dead?”

  Janna nodded and brushed a tear aside.

  “She loved you, Janna. She told me so.”

  “I know she did. She was devoted to Mykko and me. So many loyal staff -- they were our friends, Nykkyo. I knew many of the casualties personally. In the liberation of the palace, we had many, many more ordinary citizens lay down their lives. The final count isn't known yet, but it's certain to be more than any of us can imagine -- or bear.”

  “I'm so sorry,” Nyk said.

  “No, Nykkyo. I'm the one who's sorry. I'm sorry to have embroiled you and Andra in this. You had no business getting involved. I shouldn't have agreed to Andra's plan.”

  “Andra's plan?”

  “To petition the HL -- it didn't work, anyway. I should've been with my people.”

  “That was Andra's idea?”

  “She insisted on it.”

  “What would Mykko have done if you were in harm's way? What if you had fallen into Vellod's hands? What could he not have coerced your husband into doing to spare you? What of your son?”

  “Of course -- you are correct, Nykkyo.”

  “Having you in safekeeping freed his mind to deal with the attackers. Mykko told us how deep is his love for you. If Vellod had gotten hold of you, he'd have done anything in exchange for your safety -- anything.”

  “Yes, it might have turned out very differently.”

  “Might-haves don't count.”

  “I do hope you'll return to Lexal, Nykkyo. We are a peace-loving people. You and I are bonded fast, friends-for-life. I will honor that bond.”

  “As will I. I not only honor it -- I cherish it.”

  “Thank you, Nyk. Now, I must prepare myself for the address.” The vidisplay went dark.

  * * *

  Nyk pressed the touch screen to access the public affairs channel. He saw the auditorium in the Lexal palace. The camera panned around the facility and he could see evidence of scorching, and holes in the roof. Mykko Wygann limped onto the stage with Janna standing beside him. She was wearing the long gown and tiara, but no belt-shield.

  The camera zoomed into a tight shot of Wygann's face. “Citizens of Lexal and citizens of the Floran Hegemony,” he began. “Tonight is a moment of triumph for our people. We have eradicated a threat to the security of our land and population.

  “A band of thugs, led by a deranged and disgruntled ex-chancellor, and illegally aided by forces sanctioned by the governments of two other colonies attempted to seize control of this world. They were vanquished, not by weaponry but by the will and resolve of this planet's population.” Nyk could hear the crowd in the auditorium cheering.

  Jana spoke. “In our time of distress, I, representing the legal government of the Lexal colony, petitioned the Floran High Legislature for support and relief. The High Legislature, in control of an inter-colonial strike force and equipped with state-of-the-art particle beam weapons, refused us each time. Only after the depth of commitment to our defeat made by the Altians became irrefutable did they offer to intercede.”

  Wygann spoke again. “I have refused their assistance. The Lexalese people -- our own, fine people -- had by then already arisen and vanquished our oppressors. The weapons we employed were sticks and stones ... Sticks and stones! ... And our numbers and our own resolve.” Nyk heard more cheering.

  Wygann raised his hand to calm the crowd. “Our victory did not come without a price. Seven thousand four hundred and eighteen peace-loving Lexalese citizens who answered our call perished in the palace assault.” The camera panned across the crowd again, who now sat in silence.

  “Their families will be cared for. In addition, more than ten thousand were injured, and some will suffer the rest of their lives. The blood of our dead and wounded now stains the hands of the High Legislature delegates who turned blind eyes and deaf ears to our plight.

  “Never again! Never again will the Lexalese people permit such a threat to materialize. It has become clear to me that the security of Lexal can be had by one means only. We cannot rely on alliances with others. We cannot rely on the empty promises of inter-colonial security made by the High Legislature. We must rely on ourselves -- our own, independent, colonial militia.”

  The crowd cheered again.

  “Consequently, I am announcing tonight that all Lexalese citizens desiring them may acquire, possess and carry firearms. This is so ordered by me under the provisions of martial law, and will remain an executive order until the colonial senate can amend our constitution to include language guaranteeing the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” The audience erupted into wild
cheering.

  “No, no, no!” Nyk said to himself. “We need fewer weapons, not more of them.”

  The camera panned to a shot of Janna. “I would like to add my thanks,” she said, “to each and everyone who came to our aid -- for you were aiding yourselves. The times ahead will be difficult, as we grieve for the casualties and as we rebuild the capital. If we all work together for the greater good, we will return to normal -- and better life for all.”

  The crowd began chanting “Jan-na! Jan-na! Jan-na!” Nyk pressed the control on the vidisplay to switch it off. He went into the apartment's spare bedroom, flopped on the bed and attempted to will himself to sleep.

  * * *

  Nyk walked into Andra's treatment room. Senta was sitting in a chair near the therapeutic pallet. Andra spotted Nyk, smiled and waved.

  Nyk embraced and kissed her. “How are you feeling today?”

  “I'm starting to be bored,” she said. “I can't wait to go home.”

  Senta looked up at Nyk. “Did you watch Wygann's speech last night?”

  “Yes. I hope he's doing the right thing, but I fear it's the wrong one.”

  “What are your plans?” Senta asked him.

  “Tomorrow I make transit. Seymor's picking me up on the relay station. I'll take a few days to relax before going back to my grind. And, I have to pick up Suki. She'll be returning from the dig in Turkey.” Senta put her hand to her mouth and suppressed laughing. “What are you giggling about?”

  “I was just thinking -- what are you going to tell your Earth woman about the last few days?”

  Nyk rolled his eyes. “I don't want to think about it right now.”

  A middle-aged man wearing an official xarpa walked into the treatment room. “Nykkyo, I'm Illya Kronta. Pleased to meet you in person.” He turned to Andra. “Andra Baxa -- it's an honor to meet you in person, too. The reports I've heard are correct -- you are indeed a beautiful woman.”

  “Thank you. You're not seeing me at my best.”

  Kronta reached into his xarpa, withdrew a small package and opened it. Inside was a medal on a cord. “This is the ExoAgency Service medallion. It's awarded for service above and beyond the call of duty.” He placed it around Nyk's neck.

  Nyk looked at the medal, then removed it and handed it to Andra. “This really belongs to you. I can't take it with me to Earth.”

  “Nykkyo, please accept my deepest apologies for insisting you involve yourself in this affair. You had no business on Lexal, and I had no business insisting you to go there.”

  “You're forgiven, Illya. You'll be pleased to learn I have another Kyhana journal to translate.”

  * * *

  Nykkyo stepped from the packet into the communications relay station. Inside the workroom he saw Seymor. “Welcome back, lad.” Seymor opened his arms and embraced him.

  “What's the weather like?” Nyk asked.

  “A very pleasant June, so far.”

  Nyk stepped into the wardroom and selected a polo shirt, shorts and running shoes. He picked up his keys and wallet from his personal effects locker. “Well, I've learned one very important lesson from all this.”

  “What's that?”

  “Never get involved in something outside your own domain of responsibility.”

  “Come, lad, before we lose the dark.” He followed Seymor into the shuttlebay.

  Sitting next to his old shuttlecar was Seymor's bubble shuttle, designed to be mistaken for a two-man helicopter -- including sham rotors that could be deployed within the atmosphere for verisimilitude in taking off and landing.

  Seymor sat behind the control panel and began prelaunch diagnostics. The shuttlebay depressurized, the spacedoor opened and the shuttle lifted off the deck and headed into deep space.

  Seymor initiated the subjump. The shuttle's bubble went opaque and Nyk felt the jolt. Transparency returned and Nyk looked down on the brilliant blue sphere of Earth.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I'm eager to be home,” Nyk replied. “But I'm also dreading it -- I don't know how I'll function.”

  “You've been through a war, lad. I've seen enough reports of Earth wars to begin to understand.”

  “I can't sleep. Every night I'm haunted by the face of the commando I killed.”

  “Those commandos made a choice when they joined, lad. They knew the risks.”

  Nyk shook his head. “That man had a mother, a father, perhaps siblings or a wife or loved ones.” He looked down at his hands. “I took that away.” He brushed away tears.

  “I assure you none of those men would grieve for their victims.”

  “Andra said the same to me. I'm not just grieving for them. I'm grieving for something that died in myself. I don't know how I can return to Suki and her parents. I certainly can't talk about it with them.”

  “You can talk about it with Sukiko.”

  Nyk shook his head again. “No, I don't think I can. She wouldn't understand what this means to a Floran.”

  Seymor activated counter-measures and began a descent toward North America. He piloted the shuttle onto the roof of the building where he had is penthouse co-op. “Are you going to the house?”

  “It's two in the morning. I don't want to disturb Suki's folks.”

  “I have a spare room. Be my guest, Nyk. I'm not expecting you in the office for a few days. Take some time to think things through.”

  Nyk nodded. He opened the door to the shuttle and helped Seymor attach safety tethers to lash the craft to the roof-top helipad. Seymor escorted him through sliding glass doors into the penthouse. “This is my humble abode. The guestroom's over there.

  “Good night.” Nyk walked into the guestroom, flopped on the bed and sobbed himself to sleep.

  * * *

  Nyk paid the cabby and climbed the steps to the house in Queens. He reached into his pocket, withdrew his house key and opened the front door. “It's Nick, Yasuko,” he called toward the back of the house.

  Suki's mother stepped from the family room. She opened her arms and embraced him. Nyk kissed her forehead and held her tightly. “I'm happy to see you,” she said.

  “I'm happy to be home.”

  “Anything exciting happen on your trip?”

  “Nothing worth mentioning.”

  “Sukiko called several times while you were gone. She was asking for you. I told her you were called out of town unexpectedly.”

  “How did she take that?”

  “She said perhaps it was good for you -- to keep you preoccupied and your mind off the two of you being apart.”

  “Preoccupied ... I was preoccupied, all right.”

  * * *

  Nyk knelt on the tatami mats around the dining table. Yasuko handed him a bowl. He picked up his chopsticks and poked the objects swimming in the broth.

  “I made miso soup,” Yasuko said. “I know it's one of your favorites.”

  Nyk sipped the broth. “Yes. It's very good.” He set the bowl down.

  “How's business?” George asked.

  Nyk looked up. “I'm sorry, what did you say?”

  “I asked how's business. I assume you were called out of town on some field problem.”

  “A field problem. That's a good way to express it. Business is fine.”

  Yasuko looked into his eyes. “Nick, is something wrong?”

  He shook his head. “I'm tired. I need to lie down.” He carried his bowl to the kitchen, set it by the sink and headed up to the apartment.

  Nyk opened the closet and took down a cardboard carton from the top shelf. He withdrew a polymer fiber sack, dipped his hand inside and grabbed a handful of uncut diamond crystals. He let them fall through his fingers back into the sack. Then, he kicked off his running shoes, flopped on the bed and laced his fingers behind his head.

  A rap on the apartment door roused his napping. “Nick? Nick?”

  “Yes George?”

  “Sukiko's on the phone.”

  Nyk headed down the stairs and took
the handset. “Hello korlyta.”

  “Nykkyo, so good to hear you. Mom said you were out of town.”

  “Yes, I was called out on a ... special project.”

  “Anything interesting happen?”

  “No ... How's the dig going?”

  “It went well. We're finishing up right now. In two days, Vlad and I fly home.”

  “Did you find anything?”

  “We found the site of a thousand-year-old village.”

  “That's amazing.”

  “When I was in Syria, we were excavating a five-thousand-year-old site. That's truly the cradle of our civilization.”

  “It's not your civilization. You're Japanese.”

  “It IS my civilization. I told you -- I'm an American.”

  “See you in a couple of days, korlyta.”

  * * *

  Nyk sat in International Arrivals at JFK airport. The monitors showed Suki's flight had landed. He paced.

  Some passengers began coming from Customs. Nyk looked toward the doorway. He spotted her as she came through the door, pushing a cart piled with baggage. Her eyes met his and she broke into a run. Nyk opened his arms and held her. He placed his lips to the top of her head and inhaled.

  “Lord, don't do that -- my hair must be disgusting. I need a shower so badly.”

  “Roses wouldn't smell sweeter.”

  She lifted her arms and turned around. “Do I look any more pregnant?”

  “Not much more.”

  “See? We didn't miss anything. I'm home in plenty of time for birthing classes and picking out nursery furniture.”

  * * *

  Suki descended the stairs from the apartment combing her wet hair. “I hadn't realized how much I missed plumbing.” She sat beside Nyk on the sofa and leaned against him. “Mmm, this feels so good.”