I stand in the Audience chamber of House Cortess staring at the limp body on the floor in horror. I've killed more than my fair share of sentients, so it's not like I haven't seen a dead body before. But this...I take a hold of the shock and turn it into righteous anger. I step forward with my right foot, setting my stance in readiness for a fight. "She didn't have to die. How could you?"
The older man simply lifts his chin, looking down his nose at me. "I had no other choice. Now, take your...insects from this place. We can discuss further recompense as civilized people." I look at Vector in my peripheral vision. He has not moved from his parade rest-like stance since he had told me that the hive was awaiting my order to attack. I was sure that the Baron's insult was directed at Vector as well, no longer considering him either civilized or people. I couldn't help but prickle at the insult. Afterall, Joiner or not, he is still a representative of the Empire. Besides, he is my backup and Cortess had just demonstrated how ruthless he can be if pushed. I have no desire to leave myself at his mercy and that of his house guard.
I open my mouth to retort, but Vector speaks, taking two long steps forward, "We're afraid that's not your decision, Baron." I lift my chin, a silent agreement. A killik behind us rumbles out an angry sounding interjection. Vector looks at him, then turns to me. "Denri Ayl and the Baroness are dead. With our assistance, the terrorist funding has been stopped. Now the nest will claim its price."
I blink at him. Price? It's an odd time to look for payment. A diplomat should know better. I lower my voice. "We're standing in a woman's blood. Can't this wait?" I can't help the reprimanding tone in my voice.
His gaze drops. "Apologies but it can't." His eyes return to mine, the lines around them hard, stubborn.
I cross my arms over my chest. It would have been nice if he had brought this up before. I would rather not show disunity of the Empire's representatives in front of Cortess. I shift my weight angling my back to the Alderaanians and lift an eyebrow at Vector. And why not? I challenge silently.
He stands straighter, his hands clasped in front. "House Cortess will make a perfect extension of the hive. These rooms will become egg chambers and membrosia pools. The family can become Joiners."
"What?!" the noble exclaims indignantly. "You cannot do this! I gave you my wife."
I turn my head and glare at him. Shut up. Let me handle this.
Vector's demeanor remains calm, his attention remaining on explaining to me. "House Cortess opposed the Empire and must be subdued. The nest is growing and must expand its territory."
I feel sick at the idea. I had been so proud of myself throughout working with Vector and the Killiks on Alderaan-like I was so open minded, so open to working with others unlike myself. I defended them to Kaliyo, shushed her snide little comments and even defended Vector as still being a loyal human servant of the Empire. Perhaps I had been tragically wrong. Perhaps he was neither Imperial nor human any longer. I feel a bit of loss at the thought. I glance again at the Alderaanians. Although I would have preferred taking his wife prisoner, learning more from her, the threat was over from his house. And Cortess was right. He had gone above and beyond to prove his loyalty to the Empire. This abomination would not happen. I would not allow it. "I never agreed to anything like that" I state firmly, readying to place myself in front of these infuriating nobles if need be.
The Kilik Joiner tilts his head, apparently perplexed. "You agreed to an alliance, surely?" He nods to himself. "By allowing the Killiks to absorb House Cortess, both the Empire and the nest benefit. Why would you object?"
The man shows no sign of outward aggression or anger at my refusal, just confusion that I don't see the logic in the hive's plans. And he's wrong. I do see the the logic it in. But it's a cold logic, without mercy or compassion for what the Baron has lost today. Not only the loss of his wife but also the loss of the illusion of the life he had thought that they had together. She had lied to him and betrayed him. Their whole life together had been a lie. And the fact that neither the nest nor the Joiner could appreciate that fact causes a shiver to run down my spine. I know trying to explain that won't help. "The Baron got us what we needed. The threat is over."
"A member of House Cortess acted against the Empire. Therefore, it is the will of House Cortess to oppose you."
Well, that's just fucked up.
"The nest…" he pauses and I wonder if he is starting to see with whatever sliver of his human consciousness still exists within him how wrong this is. He continues, "doesn't distinguish between the actions of group and individuals." He looks at me intensely, like he is trying to will me to understand. "And the colony must expand." An angry-sounding killik interjects, seeming to push for Vector to get on with it. He persists in trying to explain, however, but his tone and manner is becoming more imploring, more strained. "Agent. We-I-" he briefly touches his eyes with steepled fingers. His change to the personal pronoun demonstrates a weakness that I might exploit. Perhaps he is feeling the division of his loyalties between the Empire and the nest. "We-I-must know if you intend to oppose us. If you do, the nest will fight to defend its claim."
I soften my stance as well as my countenance. I try to make myself open to him, to show him the hurt and betrayal that I have felt at this unannounced power play after all we had been through together in the past several weeks. I look at up him through my lashes, making my voice low and persuasive-my "seduction" tone. "And what about you, Vector? Would you fight me too?"
"We..." he starts and I realize I'm holding my breath, awaiting and dreading his answer, "would not." His dark eyes hold mine. "Our loyalty to the Empire comes first."
I can breathe again. And despite the fact that I am facing a battle against a room of Killiks, I am relieved. I don't have to fight Vector. Not that I couldn't take him. We had fought together against Ulgo and his forces. I had studied him...I mean, I had studied his form...lol...I had analyzed his tactics and the flaws in them. If I had to fight him, I would win. But it would have given me no pleasure. Instead, he will fight at my side with his own people. Against his own people. I realize with regret that there is no winning outcome for him in this battle. He loses either way. "We have to defend Cortess. I'm glad you're on my side."
"We understand. We will do," and he pauses, seeming to be in pain at the thought, "what needs to be done."
The Baron calls his men to arms and I apply kolto probes to myself and to Vector before activating my stealth generator in preparation for battle.
We stand in the entryway of the Cortess Manor watching the retreating forms of the Killiks grow smaller in the distance.
"The nest has withdrawn. House Cortess is safe-for now."
I look at the man, trying to discern what might be going on under his always-calm demeanor. It had to have been a rough battle for him, to fight sentients that are like family to him. We are alone in entryway, the Cortess forces remaining are in the audience hall with their master. "You turned on the nest. That couldn't have been easy." I want to touch him, to offer him a small human comfort but am not sure of how it would be received. So I disguise it as examining him for injuries, but put more care into the touch than strictly necessary.
He bends his head, watching as I carefully spread kolto gel onto a laceration on his arm. "The nest transformed us into the Dawn Herald. The nest gave us peace and understanding." He lays a hand over mine where it lingers on his arm. I look up to meet his gaze. "But we were always the Empire's emissary."
I know that it had been the right thing to do-that we had both done our duty. But I am saddened that his peaceful life has been destroyed and that I had a hand in that destruction. Even Joiner though he is, he has always given me the impression of a kind heart and desire to believe the best in people. He didn't deserve this. His black eyes are soft as they look into mine. I want to say something to help ease his pain. But I don't understand the psychology or sociology of the Killiks enough to know what would be appropriate to say or do. So I remain quiet and simply be with him in silent support as his thoughts turn inward.
After a moment or two he nods at me and we re-enter the audience chamber. The Baron and his men stand stiffly on the dais. "I am grateful for your aid." I can't help but notice that the Baron looks only at me when he says this, as if Vector didn't defend him as well, as if the man is not standing right next to me. "House Cortess has suffered enough." As if he's the only one that lost something precious here today. I tap my anger down. I just need to keep my composure long enough to finish here, then I want nothing more than to leave Alderaan and these self-righteous, self-important nobles behind me.
"You've endured some terrible losses, Baron," I reply in my sympathetic voice. Keeping the bitterness out of it is no easy task.
"The weeks ahead may prove trying. But we all endure." I look at Vector who is standing tall, still, impassive. I know that is true for all of us. We are all fighters, survivors. But I wonder that those weeks have in store for the Joiner man. Part of two worlds and now truly belonging to neither.
He turns to Cortess as I think this. "Baron, perhaps you'd allow us access to your computers? We're certain our superiors would like to see the Baroness's files." I smile to myself that despite what he has been through today, he has thought of it before I did.
