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Empire of Night Ch18
Lisril lounged on Eli’s couch, watching Alex, who was at that moment bent at the waist digging through the box of his things, which had been delivered that evening, and, more importantly, giving her a fantastic view to admire.
She had enjoyed less time with him since welcoming other women into their fold. They weren’t alone even at that moment. Which was only natural, of course, and though it had been nice to have him all to herself, she had missed feminine camaraderie too.
“Alex,” she called.
He looked over his shoulders at her, looking up at her with wide, bright, green eyes. “Yes.” she said, drinking in the tableau, “stay just like that for a while.”
He laughed and turned back to his digging nonetheless. Then, standing, he joined her, pushing the long, sleek, blue-grey frame of a gauss rifle into her hands.
Not just any gauss rifle, hers, custom made to fit her hand, the rail and optic, a 1-16x long relief illuminated scope, just slightly higher to accommodate the shape of her face.
“There,” he said, “tell me you don’t feel better with that in your hands.”
She cradled the weapon’s weight against her body, stroked its shrouded barrel; she did feel better, and not just because a nine hundred round per second care package was the perfect way to see off any ruffian with designs on her Angel.
It had been a gift, a gift from him. Every aspect planned and calculated to fit her like a glove. “Thank you,” she said, “Angel.”
He sat and leaned against her. “Love you, Kitten.”
She heaved a sigh, setting aside her gun and taking his hand. He was shaking. “Are you cold?”
He shook his head. “I’m alright.”
She huffed, stood, and fetched out a blanket, sitting and wrapping it around them. “See now, was it so bad to let your wife take care of you?”
He grinned and wiggled closer to her. “Thank you, Kitten.”
“You’re welcome.” Her smile was indulgent if a little reproachful. “I wish you’d be more open about your needs.”
“I know.” He offered an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, it’s not easy for me.”
She wiggled an arm around behind him and gently stroked his arm. “It’s alright,” she said, “I know you’re accustomed to a poor crop of women, and it’s not all bad, I find it very endearing at times, how you work to solve your problems. But you know I’m always here for you.”
“I know.” He kissed her and received an appreciative whoop from a very slightly drunk Rosslln.
Lisril laughed, looking over her shoulder at the younger woman. “Then come here and help me warm him up.”
Rosslln grinned and sauntered over from the table; she glanced at the open spot opposite Lisirl, smirked, and crawled under the blanket, sitting in Alex’s lap.
“Rosslln,” Lisril said, scolding, “Alex is still-”
“It’s fine,” he said, an arm wrapping around the young woman, “Sweetheart here’s just feeling snuggly.”
“Snuggly,” Lisril said, observing the young lady’s flushed cheeks and slightly cracked jaw; she was feeling something, alright. If he really was feeling well, perhaps it was time she arranged a quiet moment for the two of them. A little fast, but he was very affectionate, as men went, and little concerned for propriety.
That could wait, though; at that moment, she was enjoying sitting with him.
Someone knocked, and she sighed, was a quiet day in with her husband so much to ask? She considered simply letting them knock. But it might be important, so, reluctantly, she stood and greeted their guest.
A messenger, Lisril took the missive and dismissed her with a nod and a wave. She read the message. “Alex,” she said, “Eli needs us.”
The three of them, Lisril, Alex, and Rosslln, had liberty; Serra and Eli did not and had left them to entertain themselves while they worked.
He looked up from Rosslln, who he had been busy teasing and kissing. “Then we shouldn’t keep her waiting, come on, Sweetheart.”
“No,” Lisril said, “just the two of us.”
He frowned. “What’s going on?”
Lisril looked at the letter in her hand. “She didn’t say,” Lisril said, “just something to do with the human delegation.”
Rosslln had let him up by then, and he joined her. “I suppose we can’t keep her waiting. Does she say where?”
Lisril nodded; it was a meeting room near the Dyrantoro wing; she fetched her gun; if she had it, she might as well employ it and slung it over her shoulder. “I can lead you, come along; we will return soon, Rosslln.”
The young woman nodded, and Lisril took his hand. He was reluctant, it was easy to see, and Rosslln, smiling, wrapped her arms around his neck, and they kissed.
“I’ll be waiting for you,” Rosslln said breathlessly, “hurry back.”
He nodded and pulled away from her. “I will.”
Lisril led him away, and still, he glanced over his shoulder, back toward Eli’s chambers.
Lisril smiled. “You want her.”
He stepped closer, leaned against her. “It’s not fair to leave her out,” he said.
She smiled. “She, too, is your woman, is it?”
He kissed her cheek. “Lisril-”
“It’s quite alright,” she said, “honestly, I was nervous about her at first. But she’s proven to be valorous and worthy if a little lacking in instruction.”
He chuckled. “I think I could choose any random lady off the street and have better than even odds at valorous and worthy.” He sighed. “It’s so easy, Lisril.” He shook his head. “We just- fit.”
Lisril smiled; he didn’t have to tell her; she’d felt it, seen it in her friends. They were made for each other. Dyrantisa, and Dyrantoro, two parts of a whole, Alex and his women, none complete without their mate, and he still incomplete, the Lady doubtless having further plans for his future.
She felt for him; she had struggled all her life with just that feeling of incompletion, of something being missing. Its source hadn’t been a mystery; she needed a partner but couldn’t find one worthy of the pursuit.
Couldn’t find one until the Lady sent her to Earth to meet her destiny. She kissed him, drawing glances from the passing servants. She was used to escorting him during the daylight hours when there were few enough to act as voyeurs.
The display was a bit Gauche; maybe, it might start rumors around the castle. But they were wed. He belonged to her, and only he could raise an objection to how she chose to use him. At least until he took another wife.
She led him to the meeting room, knocking more as a courtesy than asking for entry. They had been invited, after all.
Inside, she was surprised to find Major Callahan, but also others all in military dress, and, judging by her rough understanding of the many pins and chevrons they wore, many quite high-ranking.
In particular, she could pick out General Ross, graying hair contrasting with a dark complexion; she didn’t dare even venture a guess at how old he must have been. Next to him sat a mountainous woman, who Lisril didn’t know. Who, seated before the window as she was, quite literally overshadowed the rest of the room with her bulk and appeared to Lisril to have been struck rather viciously with some sort of blunt instrument.
“Hagan,” Ross spoke with an accent that Lisril had never been able to place, pronouncing Alex’s name something like hay-gon.
“Ross.” Alex glanced around. “What’s this?”
“Sit down.” The dark-skinned general said, voice soft but deep and gravelly.
Alex didn’t sit, and she kept by his side, where she belonged. “The whole joint chiefs are on foreign soil,” he said, “what’s going on?”
“Sit, Hagan.” Lisril’s ears twitched furiously. It had been the giant who spoke, and if Ross’s voice was rough and pebbly like the sound of loose stones crunching underfoot, her voice could only be adequately compared to rocks being eaten by a blender. Sharp and piercing, if her countenance was offensive, her voice was physically painful to behold.
“You’ll get your explanation.”
Lisril squeezed his hand, and he glanced at her, giving an almost imperceptible shake of his head. There it was; no matter how uncomfortable the giant’s presence made her, she would have to bear it.
He sat, finally, looking around. “Where’s Eli? Is she not coming?”
Ross frowned. “Eli?”
“The Empress.” Alex seemed to hardly be paying attention. “She sent us the invitation.”
Ross's eyes widened. “Hagan,” he said, “what did you do?”
Alex chewed on the question for a moment. “You bring the whole military brass to Nyx and refuse to offer a word of explanation, and then you want me to just come out and tell you I’m going to marry the Empress and industrialize the system?”
The room fell silent; even the clerks stopped shuffling their papers and stared.
Ross rested his head in his hands. “You know, Hagan,” he said, “I never used to get headaches. I never had an ulcer. Strong as an ox, stronger, even. And then I met you. What in the fuck do you mean you're going to marry the Empress?”
Alex shrugged. “Generally,” he said, “when someone gets married-”
Ross banged a fist on the table. “You know what I meant; stop being a prick and explain yourself.”
If Alex was disturbed by the outburst, he didn’t show it. “I like her,” he said, “I want her; she’s smart, witty, decisive, and damn good looking.”
“And I just bet,” Ross said, “she’s over the moon with you, too.”
“I think she likes me,” he said, “we have fun.”
Ross shook his head, and the giant filled the room with a laugh that set Lisril’s teeth on edge. “As much as I enjoy seeing Ross here flustered, aren’t you already married?”
He glanced at Lisril. “She started it.”
She smiled at the gathered Dyrantoro. “It seemed unfair to deny my fellow ladies the happiness I had found.”
Ross sighed. “We’ll talk about this later, maybe with the diplomatic corps present.”
Alex nodded. “However you want to do it.”
Ross sighed, and Eli chose that moment to arrive and diffuse the situation. “Forgive our Lateness,” she said, taking a seat next to Alex, “We were otherwise engaged, and your coming was most sudden.”
“It’s fine,” Ross said, “thank you for hosting us on such short notice.”
“Not at all,” she said, “but if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Yeah,” Alex said, “gang’s all here now, so what gives?”
Ross massaged the bridge of his nose. “against my better judgment,” he said, “I’m going to ask you to help explain the situation. You remember the situation between New Persia and the Southeast Coalition.”
“Yeah,” Alex said, “things had gotten quiet before we left. But I guess since you’re here something-” He stopped. “Oh.”
Ross grunted, “so that’s the situation.”
Eli looked between them, frowning. “We are, of course, happy that you’ve come to an understanding, but if Our guests might be kind enough to enlighten Us as to the situation?”
“There’s been a nuclear exchange in the middle east,” Alex said.
Eli stared; it clearly meant nothing to her, and Alex, sensing this pursed his lips.
“Let me put it this way,” he said, “imagine a longbow that can strike at the other side of the world and annihilate a city, and that’s an ICBM.”
Eli looked stricken and slowly shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”
“He very much is,” Ross said.
“Then,” Eli said, “you came here seeking shelter, in case your country was next?”
“Not exactly,” the giant’s piercing voice filled the room.
“I take it,” Alex said, “that the governments in question have collapsed.”
Ross nodded. “The first rangers made ring jumps from Bifrost twelve hours ago. By now, they’ll be reinforced by regular troops.”
“You think Moscow will make a play?” Alex asked.
“Possibly,” Ross said, “things aren’t going well for them in China.”
Eli cleared her throat, looking expectantly at the men, and Alex turned to her.
“Earth isn’t like Nyx,” he said, “we don’t have a single government. But the Federation encourages her rivals to spend their energy fighting each other and themselves rather than build themselves up.
“Encourages?” Eli asked, “how?”
“We power our ships with Anitmater,” Alex said, “the substance is difficult and energy-intensive to produce. We use ah, a certain device whose operation isn’t essential to this conversation, and power it with a swarm of solar collectors, again, not important. What’s important is that these collectors occlude the sun, and the resulting cooler temperatures and reduced solar flux led to widespread famine and all the problems that entails.”
Eli frowned. “You did this on purpose?”
“Well,” Alex said, “not me, personally, but it is a slick bit of work.”
Eli shook her head, “We are most pleased to count your countrymen as allies.”
Alex smiled. “Well, I know I wouldn’t like having to fight you.”
Eli smiled. “Then We shall have to make it a point to avoid the possibility.”
“Let’s hope so,” Ross said, “but back to the topic at hand. As Dr. Hagan explained, the Federation didn’t start the wars that have defined the last centuries, but we have encouraged the circumstances contributing to their continuation. The strategic purposes of this should be obvious, but now, with first contact and the looming threat of war with a galactic power, merely assuring our nation’s geopolitical dominance through the weakening of her rivals is no longer sufficient. As we speak, the annexation of much of the globe is underway via various political and military means.
“With the collapse of the near and remainder of the far east, soon we are likely to control most of Earth, given the situation, we believe it likely our primary rival will either be forced to capitulate or launch a final attack now.”
Eli nodded. “Why don’t you explain in greater detail? Why do you believe that?”
“Dr. Hagan explained nuclear arms,” the giant’s piercing timbre filled the room, “as it happens, there’s no effective defense against nuclear attack, the attacker has all the advantages.”
The giant reached into her pocket and withdrew a pack of cigarettes, lighting up right there. “Without a means of meaningful defense, the only solution that can provide protection is to have a large enough nuclear stockpile to ensure an attack will be met with utter destruction.”
“Make attack unappealing,” Eli said, “rather than attempt to prevent it.”
“Yes,” mercifully, Ross picked the conversation back up then, “only, that equation isn’t working so well anymore. The Federation stopped being the United States because we began to get holdings off-world, on and around other planets, even. We’ve hardened our country against nuclear attack. Population centers are more spread out, power infrastructure is buried underground or sunk underwater where ionizing radiation will fail to harm it, we grow our food indoors, under frequency tailored light.”
The man paused, glancing at the giant, for what purpose Lisril couldn’t guess, then continued, “even if all of that weren’t true, and our rivals might underestimate these factors. The usual model of mutually assured destruction only works if it is, in fact, possible to destroy a country by use of the nuclear stockpile available.”
“I take it,” Eli said, “that you believe your rivals will see the forthcoming land acquisition as the point at which this strategy will no longer function.”
Ross nodded, “I know it’s sudden, and I’ve been told it’s a bad time, but we determined that it would be best if the military command relocated temporarily.”
“Which brings us to this meeting,” Eli concluded, “you are correct; this is a most inopportune moment. But We can hardly refuse such a request from Our brothers. You are, of course, welcome to quarter yourselves in the east wing with your fellows, please, if there is aught you require, you’ve only to ask.”
Ross nodded. “We will,” he said, “on the subject of the current problems….”
“You needn’t worry yourself, sir,” Eli said, “Our people are dealing with the difficulties as we speak. The guard around the east wing has been doubled; you shall be perfectly secure.”
“I have no doubt,” the general said, “but, perhaps, given the circumstances, the doctor should return home.”
Eli gave Alex a long, lingering look. “We,” she said at last, “would be amenable to this, but perhaps we should ask m’lord’s thoughts on the matter.”
“Absolutely not,” Alex said.
“Hagan.”
“No,” Alex said, “I’ve already had this ridiculous conversation once; I’m not repeating myself. I won’t leave Eli twisting, and that’s that.”
Ross sighed. “I could end your contract,” he said, “but you’d just do something stupid, so I guess I’ll let it lie for now. Still, be careful, Hagan; as much as it pains me to say it, you’re too valuable to lose.”
“Shucks,” Alex said, “I didn’t know you cared.
“Okay,” Ross said, “I officially need a break; you come talk to me later.”
“Will do,” Alex said, “and hey, Ross.”
Ross sighed. “I’m going to regret this. Yes, Hagan?”
“I think I’ve worked out a way to make Unity work.”
The dark-skinned man blinked. “Wasn’t expecting that.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Alright, we can add that to the docket.”
Alex nodded. “Enjoy your break; I’m going to get back to romancing the Nyxian upper class.”
