"The Gaians are going to miss you", Silva said solemnly.
"I'm only going for 2 days Silva, I'll be back tomorrow", laughed Deidre, "Surely the Gaians can cope for 1 night?"
"I hope so", Silva said seriously, her normally vivid red hair hung morosely by her shoulders, her luscious red lips trembling.
"Goodbye Silva", Deirdre hugged her friend, "but not for long- I'll visit you in your dreams".
"I'm sure you will Lady".
The shuttle docking facility was not busy, shuttles were very fast and very expensive and used only by Chiron's rich and powerful, but there was an air of urgency around the place. Effectively Deirdre was standing in a long , metal tube. When the time came the shuttle would travel through the tube, gathering speed all the time, until it gathered enough momentum to fly up to the clouds. Shuttles were brilliant pieces of engineering, it was a pity the person that had invented them was dead.
"Sergeant Lionel, when do you think we will be ready to leave?", Deirdre asked the armoured man to her left. Sergeant Lionel may have had many positions; military advisor, patrol leader- but his main one was Deirdre's bodyguard. She had to admit, the Gaians knew how to make them- long, wavy, dark hair not unlike her own, a gorgeous tan, a slim yet strong frame and puppy dog brown eyes- she would have liked a physical relationship but knew it would only complicate his duties- it was a bad idea to sleep with someone who had to risk their life protecting you.
"The shuttle is ready, Lady, we leave on your command".
"In that case we should go immediately, I don't see any point in delaying".
Together they boarded the shuttle. The seats were lined with a patriotic green cloth. However there were no windows. This merely reinforced the daunting fact that they would be travelling in midair in an aluminium tube. Deirdre sat down on one of the seats. The cloth felt rough.
"Champagne?", Lionel asked, holding up a bottle he had snatched from the mini bar.
"I don't see why not".
Upfront two pilots in green uniforms were fiddling with a box full of gears and buttons, not unlike the aeroplane control systems of Earth.
One of them turned round, "Lady, we depart on your command".
"In that case leave as soon as possible", she replied.
Despite the possibly dangerous journey Deirdre was in good spirits, she always felt safe beside Lionel. He leaked a certain sureness and of security, and despite his youth he had experienced his fair share of adventures.
Suddenly Deirdre felt very sleepy even though the day was relatively young. She leaned back in the chair, it could recline! What a luxury! And it was 100 Gaian, none of that Morgan junk would find its way near her tender behind. Lionel handed her a glass and she tasted the champagne, not bad, not bad at all. She had never particularly enjoyed shuttle flights but this one would be an exception.
There was a slight change in the gravity as the shuttle started it's flight.
-
Gain Diplomatic Shuttle
A mountain. It's summit seemed to stretch into an infinity of sky, the snow shone with the glow of a new born sun in Centauri's light. A small mountain stream gurgled past, full with newly melted water.
There! Off to the right. A gleam that was different from the snow. The gleam of metal…no, the gleam of lots of metal. A base. As Deirdre focused the gleam of the metal, the base, got larger and larger. A sea of green began expanding across the featureless white. Gradually both the growths slowed down, then stopped.
Deirdre breathed in a lungful of fresh mountain air. She was dreaming. She found herself wishing that she could have more dreams here, the place was just so….. timeless. Deirdre was not worried that the metal would grow again, even if it did it could not hold a candle to the mountain surroundings. An insignificant base could never spoil the beauty of the mountainside.
Deirdre had only become conscious in her dreams with the help of the Voice, yet she could not detect the mysterious entity's presence.
She stood in the moment, thinking of the all-consuming silence emanating from her surroundings. It was so peaceful here, never mind about dreams she did not wanted to leave at all.
Then suddenly the rumbling began.
It started off low, more like a feeling in the air than a real sound, but it broke the silence like a Morgan flame gun broke the tangled xenofields. Then it grew to a mighty roar in the air. Deirdre did not like this, yet she had not idea of a plan of escape or how the rumbling could occur. Was the mountain a dormant volcano?
Another light, but this was not the gentle light of the light from the sun bouncing off the snow, this was a menacing dirty orange light that Deirdre always associated with war. At first it appeared in the base, slowly twisting the carefully sculpted metals into a metallic mess, then it spread to the green fields, turning them to ash.
Deirdre screamed but it did not make much difference as the rumbling was all that she could hear. Nobody could hear her scream, not even herself.
It was about this time that it started raining rocks. Dark, blunt brutes that hammered the untouchable mountainside and melted the remaining snow.
Deirdre closed her eyes from the fear and betrayal she felt as the indestructible mountain succumbed to the pounding of tiny pebbles. Finally, after reaching a terrible climax, the noise disappeared. Deirdre opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of a blackened crater.
Then she woke up.
-
University Base
"Aki, you don't mind accompanying me to U.N Headquarters for the council meeting do you?", Zakharov asked, the embers of a dying fire lighting up his eyes.
"Of course not Provost", she replied. They were both seated in Zakhaorv's personal cabin high up in the mountains overlooking the jewel of Chiron- University Base. The base looked even more beautiful at night. With the millions of tiny lights that made up the lives of thousands of University citizens shining in a patchwork the capital looked not unlike a fallen constellation- a portion of the night time sky that had decided to follow humanity to Chiron.
Aki had made an effort to look good- it was not every day the Provost asked to converse with you in his private cabin. She was dressed up as a Greek goddess of old. The long, flowing robes that left her arms bare was a flare of light blues, purples and white, her earrings dangled a couple of centimetres above her shoulders and shared the same colour theme of her robes and she had added a platted extension to her platinum hair so that it reached down to her waist, and had slipped a long synthetic peacock feather through it. This was not the normal evening wear of the University elite, Aki and her Provost had attended a dinner party just an hour before and she had wanted to look positively divine. She had succeeded.
"What would my formal function be?", she asked.
"You will be my advisor and secretary for the proceeding vote".
Aki nodded and stared out of the oppressing black full length wall window, at the insufficient light of the Capital and the equally inadequate light of the stars. It was hard to imagine she came from them. Aki took another sip from the wineglass in her hand, she was feeling unusually relaxed- this would have to be her last glass. She remembered the stars were one of Zkharov's favourite subjects.
"Sol looks bright tonight", Sol- the Latin name for Mankind's first sun.
"All the stars look bright this far up", Zakharov said.
"That would make sense- we are fractionally closer to them".
"Technically closer but it shouldn't make any difference".
"It always has to me for some reason- the higher I am the closer I feel I am to them, I don't know why", Aki explained.
There was a reason she was sharing her innermost secrets with Zkharov- she valued his advice and even robots had friends, although robot was a false term to describe her with.
"No wonder you feel close to the heavens, you look….wonderful. What did you do? Steal a goddess's wardrobe?" the Provost joked- he could be smooth when he wanted to be.
Aki smiled, she did not wish to or feel the need to have Zakharov as a partner, and she knew he felt the same way so the remark was innocent as much as it was cute.
"Thank you".
"How is the Zeta-5 program getting on? This experiment really has no end", he enquired.
"The same; mental processes are quickened, I am given better control of my body, my observational faculties are excellent"
"Would you say you have lost any free will?"
"No… I don't know. Sometimes I am not sure where the Zeta-5 program ends and I begin."
"Is this one of those times?"
Aki didn't answer. She just continued to stare at the stars.
"I've always loved the stars", she continued.
"So have I, they shine against the darkness of space".
"No", Aki said, a little loudly for their close proximity, "The stars shine with the darkness- the stars would be nothing without the darkness".
This time it was Zakharov's time not to answer.
"The darkness is just as important as the stars", she continued.
Zakharov did not answer this either, he finished his glass of vodka and stood up.
"If we are to arrive in at U.N. Headquarters by dawn we should leave now. Don't worry, a proper uniform has been packed for you. All we have to do is go to my private shuttle docking facility."
-
U.N. Headquarters
"Deirdre, are you alright?" said the blurred face of Lionel.
Deirdre opened her eyes. She was in the same claustrophobic aluminium tube she dozed off in but the vibrations had stopped. They had arrived at Pravin's capital.
"You should let the medics answer that one, but I think I will survive" She sat up and checked her hair. She was a faction leader after all, she was supposed to be strong. And not to mention Lionel was close.
"How long was I out?"
"Just a couple of hours- long enough for us to arrive", he answered.
"Do I look all right?" He wiped the habitual stray strand of her out of her face.
"You look wonderful".
She felt her heart lift at his compliment, she offered him her hand.
"In that case you can escort me to Commisioner Lal".
He led her off the shuttle and into Pravin's shuttle docking facility. The place was empty except for the odd technician- not many people strayed past the fireproof barrier. This was the first time Deirdre had arrived by shuttle. Should she wait for someone?
Thankfully she did not have to wait long. The Peacekeeping diplomat for Gaian affairs approached from a side door. She knew him well.
"Michael, how are you!"
"I'm fine. You look stunning as always!"
Deirdre did not waste time returning the compliment- Michael's own complexion was not his best feature. She had on a tight fitting pea green dress that reached down past her knees and a red pashmina around her neck. Just to complete the look she had placed a red carnation in her hair next to her left ear before she had boarded the shuttle.
"Very well, and where is the fine commissioner?" Deirdre wondered.
"He is tied up with affairs of state, I'm afraid the next time you will be able to see him is during the council session itself".
Deirdre sighed, "in that case take me to my usual quarters".
-
U.N. Headquarters, Planetary Council Chamber
The Planetary Council Chamber was built in the South side of the largest, oldest UNHQ tower. One whole wall of the room was devoted to a window that had a commanding view of the many white washed buildings that made up Pravin's metropolis. The room was about 20ft by 30ft, most of this space was taken up by a huge ovular table. At the head of the room, behind Pravin's place at the table, was a huge metal model of the U.N. symbol. It shone in the sunlight.
"I now formally declare the vote for the doubling of commerce rates convened by CEO Nwabudake Morgan of the Morganites open", Pravin announced, bringing his hammer down.
Morgan smiled smugly. He was confident this was going to be a success. He sat to Pravin's immediate right, with his back to the full length window. Zakharov sat in his customary white tunic beside Morgan. To Pravin's left sat Deirdre, in all her green splendour, and then off to Deidre's left sat Santiago. She had on black plated armour- the best Spartan weapons manufacturers had to offer- a helmet lay on the table next to her, she had a far off look in her eyes as though her mind was still in the Spartan training grounds. Off to her left was Miriam, in a blue uniform, her green eyes flashed dangerously in the yellow light. Chairman Yang had been expelled from the council because of crimes against humanity.
"I vote yea", Morgan said.
"I shall vote yea", Zakharov copied.
"I think everybody knows which was I'm going to vote but I'll say anyway, nay", Deirdre sighed, she honestly thought everything was fine the way it was.
"I have decided to vote yea", said Santiago.
"This scheme will only further the influence powerbrokers have on the planet, therefore I shall vote nay", Miriam stated.
Everyone in the room knew who those 'powerbrokers' were.
They all looked at Pravin. It was in his hands now. A tie would mean the proposal would be blocked. Morgan shifted in his seat.
"I abstain", said Pravin.
Morgan visibly relaxed. Santiago's indifferent expression did not change. Zakharov looked at the floor. Miriam scowled.
"Pravin!", Deirdre whinged at him.
He spread his hands, "Its my vote Lady. The proposal to double business rates has been passed with a 3 to 2 majority".
Deirdre sat back in her chair, annoyed, then heard a beep come from the portable commlink on her wrist. A message from Miriam! She wanted to meet up with Deirdre after the meeting. Deirdre thought about this, wiping away a strand a hair from her face.
She typed in 'where?' and sent it to Miriam again. It would not do to allow the other leaders knowledge that she was going to consult with Miriam.
-
U.N. Headquarters, Miriam's Temporary Quarters
"I'm so glad you decided to join me", Miriam smiled, her green eyes lighting up, "have you been praying to the Lord lately?"
"Not as much as I should", Deirdre said diplomatically.
Miriam's quarters had to much green for the leader of a desert faction. There were plenty of plants, each and every one seemed to be flowering at the moment and filled the room with their colourful scent. Even the four poster bed had ivy growing over it! They were seated in the balcony that overlooked the setting sun. They were on the same tower as the council chamber.
Miriam just smiled at Deirdre's response. She seemed so different from the screaming fanatic Deirdre had heard over the datalinks, right now Miriam had a gentle, almost grandmother, quality.
"More camomile tea?", Miriam asked.
"Yes please." Miriam poured some more tea. The 2 leaders sat back in their deck chairs and stared at the city.
"Was there a reason you wanted me besides my company?", Deirdre asked slightly impatiently.
"Yes", Miriam was gently hugging her tea in her hands, "the defeat at the council session today was unfortunate".
"But not unexpected".
"Definitely not unexpected… how are the Gaians doing these days?"
"They are doing wonderfully, even if I say so myself", Deirdre eyed Miriam, "what is your point?"
Miriam leaned forward in a conspiratorial whisper, "what if the Gaians and the Believers put a stop to this power broking nonsense together?"
"We would both be destroyed", Deirdre said with a note of finality in her voice, "I have no wish to accompany you in your meaningless crusades against the civilized world. Good day".
"I would hardly call the other factions civilized".
"I would", Deirdre almost shouted.
With that Deirdre stood up and walked towards the door, not looking back lest she look into those eyes that were undoubtedly plotting her murder. The Gaians had made a new enemy.