Chapter 7

It was with a sigh of relief that Ariva left the coffee shop, loosening the pink bowtie that was part of the uniform. She's been working here for a few weeks now. While the pay was decent and she got good hours, dealing with customers could be annoying. Some of them were so demanding.

She waved as another employee walked in to replace her on the next shift. Then, wiping whipped cream off her skirt, she headed home.

Her PAK suddenly informed her that someone was trying to contact her, though the ID number was unfamiliar and there was no name.

After debating whether she wanted to answer, she did, pulling a headset out of her PAK, attaching a clip to one of her antennae and holding the mouthpiece in front of her face. "Hello?"

"Ariva, do not panic. I am going to help you," an unfamiliar voice said.

"Who is this?" Ariva demanded.

"It's too dangerous to give my name over this connection. I am going to lead you to an address, we need to talk."

"Look, I don't know who you are-"

"There is a conspiracy at work and you are in danger. If you value your life, you'll meet with me. Turn right at this street."

Ariva sighed but did as told, turning to walk down a road she's never taken before.

"I can't give you an actual address… in the event that this call is somehow recorded by… unpleasant parties, it'll be difficult for them to work out our location. Go straight here."

"Makes sense, but… what conspiracy are you talking about?"

"I'll tell you when we meet in person."

So Ariva let the stranger lead her down streets and past buildings, trying to remember the turns she made so she could get back to familiar roads.

Finally, she was told to enter a narrow alley between two apartment buildings. She hesitated. It was shady, filled with litter, the walls on both sides covered in graffiti.

"Enter the alley. Don't worry, it's safe." He hung up.

Ariva finally walked in, keeping her antennae perked, looking around for any sign of danger. Then a male irken with dark brown eyes stepped out from the shadows. He pulled back the hood of the black coat he was wearing, looking her over. He was probably about half her height.

"I'll try to keep this brief. My name is Mico, I'm an employee on the Tallest's flagship, the Massive." He sat on the edge of an old crate, looking around, flicking his antennae to ensure that they were alone.

Ariva leaned against the crate but didn't sit. "Just tell me what you want."

He looked back at her. "I don't have much time; the Tallest think I'm on leave to visit my family, but I'm really here to warn you."

"Warn me about what?"

"There is a dark conspiracy at work. Many of us on the Massive are aware of it. A few support it, and some are neutral. But most of us find it appalling and are working to prevent it. Tell me, what do you know about Tallest Red and Purple?"

Ariva shrugged. "Just what I've heard about them in rumors and the news… and I learned about them and many of their predecessors in school. Tallest Red tends to be more of the commander when it comes to directing the fleet, and is more technologically adept than his partner. But Tallest Purple makes some of the more extreme calls, and is very knowledgeable about strategy and how fleets are organized. They both tend to take very aggressive approaches to problems, and… are really arrogant. They love their job, they love conquest… the last twenty years of their career have been devoted to sending out Invaders to every single planet we come across."

Mico nodded. "Yes, you seem to have a good idea of what they're like. They do indeed love their job. So much in fact, that they're willing to do whatever they must to stay in power." His gaze lingered on the side of Ariva's face, and she self-consciously touched the scar from Shade's dagger.

"They're killing off the competition," she whispered.

Mico nodded again, confirming her suspicions. "Yes. They have been very careful to make it look like unrelated accidents. A tall general and his troops are sent into hostile territory and he just so happens to be killed by Vortians. A transport truck is sent down a road that a Higher Academy student happens to frequently cross."

Ariva shook slightly as she remembered almost getting ran over. "And that didn't work… so they sent an assassin."

"Precisely. Now, don't worry. A small group of us have decided to offer protection to anyone they have their eyes on. Mostly you, you're one of the next tallest irkens alive besides them. They're very annoyed that you're still alive."

"Well, I'm sorry for wanting to live," she said sarcastically.

"If you live long enough to grow a couple more kliks, you can demand they step down, and they'll have to. But until then, we're assigning you a bodyguard. You won't see him unless he absolutely has to step in to save you. Otherwise, he'll just keep watch."

Ariva really didn't want to be followed around like that, but she didn't want to be attacked again. "Okay. You what you must. Just keep me safe."

"Of course, Taller Ariva." He saluted her with his antennae. She responded with the same salute. "We're doing what we can to recruit one of the Tallest's top advisors. Perhaps we can get him to convince the Tallest to stop killing off tall irkens. In the meantime, we'll try to keep up with their plans and make sure your guard knows what to expect."

"All right. Thanks."

"We hope to see you on the Massive real soon. Stay safe." Mico got up. "I'm going to my parents' house, that's where I'm supposed to be. Goodbye."

"Bye."

He pulled his hood back up and left. She followed, but he soon disappeared from view. So she started making her way back home, hoping she wouldn't get lost. As she walked, she thought about what she had been told. Her suspicions were right. The Tallest were getting rid of anyone who might replace them. They obviously thought that they were above the law, that they could get away with being responsible for murder.

She'll have to be very, very careful from now on…