"Tyr Anasazi to see you, your Excellancy," Ashan informed Tamerlane as the door opened and Ashan stepped just inside the door before motioning Tyr to enter. Tyr stepped through the door and started across the office to where Tamerlane was seated behind his desk.
"If you have finished with the last set of correspondence, you may leave for the evening," Tamerlane gestured toward Ashan who was just about to exit the room.
"Excuse me, your Excellency?" Ashan paused in pulling the door closed behind him. It was relatively early in the evening compared to the hours he was accustomed to working.
"According to the schedule," Tamerlane gestured to the display on his desk. "My father is my last appointment for the evening. Is that not correct?"
"It is correct, your Excellancy," Ashan assured him.
"Once this meeting is concluded, I will be leaving the office for the rest of the evening," Tamerlane informed Ashan. Tamerlane picked up a few flexis off the desk and put them to the side. "As always, if there is an emergency, I will be available. You may leave when the last of correspondence has been sent."
"I … thank you, your excellency," Ashan nodded deeply as he started to back out of the door. "I will complete my work and depart."
"Your excellency?" Tyr laughed softly as he took one of the chairs before Tamerlane's desk.
"I told Ashan he could try it out for the day," Tamerlane shook his head as he shifted a few more flexis to the side. "I, personally, do not care for that title. I do not expect to hear it again after today."
"Perhaps you should settle on one or two and be done with it," Tyr suggested as he leaned back into the chair and crossed one foot over the other knee.
"I find it amusing to hear whatever new forms of address he comes up with from time to time. I figure, eventually, he will run out of terms and we can be done with his experimentation," Tamerlane shrugged slightly as his focus returned to the flexis on his desk and he shifted a few more. "Your appointment was a late addition to my schedule. Since you chose to meet here, I assume it is related to the business of the Empire and not personal in mature. What would you like to discuss?"
"It is a personal matter that is related to the business of the Empire," Tyr began slowly.
"Concerning Beka and Calea, then," Tamerlane nodded as he leaned forward and began looking through several piles of flexis. He thought then maybe he should have had Ashan stay and transfer all the data from the flexis into the main computer. However, Tamerlane found he preferred to shuffle through, sort and arrange the flexis to searching on the computer system.
"When you and Beka first spoke, you agreed to a period of three days for you to make a decision. It has been five now," Tyr informed Tamerlane hesitantly.
"If Beka needs to depart for other business meetings, she is free to leave. She and I can arrange another meeting in the near future," Tamerlane offered as he started to pull out flexis and put them in another stack.
"Beka will remain here until there has been some resolution concerning Caela and her family," Tyr replied as he watched Tamerlane scan flexis and select the ones he wanted. "Over the years she has become accustomed to things not necessarily going according to her timeline. She rarely schedules other meetings near the ones with you."
"Beka is an intelligent female," Tamerlane looked over at Tyr with a smile. "Do you think the day will ever come when she finally accepts that liaison to the Nietzschean Empire is a full time job and she should discontinue her other clients?"
"Beka had managed her career for years without issue. I am certain she can continue to handle being the liaison to the Empire and her other interests as well," Tyr assured Tamerlane.
"So the likelihood of Beka resigning from her job with and for the Commonwealth is …?" Tamerlane left the question hanging in the air. Over the years he had tried several times to get Beka to come work for the Empire. Thus far, she had always declined.
"Near zero," Tyr replied with a slight smile. He knew it irritated Tamerlane to no end that Beka would never accept his offer of employment. Most would jump at the chance to work directly for Tamerlane.
"Even with her new … personal … interest in Arktos?" Tamerlane looked over at Tyr with a faint smirk.
"Personal interest?" Tyr's brow furrowed slightly.
"You," Tamerlane gestured toward Tyr.
"My relationship with Beka has nothing to do with Empire business," Tyr sighed as he got to his feet and walked around to the window behind Tamerlane's desk. It was night and the grounds were awash in security lighting at the moment. As the evening grew later and later and activity in the official business area died down, the lights would slowly dim.
"Your relationship with Beka could have a significant impact on Empire business," Tamerlane looked over his shoulder at Tyr.
"I will not use our relationship to do your bidding Tamerlane," Tyr replied as he looked back at Tamerlane.
"We all use our personal relationships or forge new ones to do our bidding or that of another," Tamerlane argued lightly. "After all, you are using your relationship with me at this very moment. Beka is interested in how my decision making is progressing. Whether you recognize it or not, you are here at her bidding."
"Beka and I were discussing her extended stay," Tyr said after a thoughtful moment. He did not think Beka was purposefully using him to get information. However, here he was trying to gain information for Beka. "She has neither seen not heard from you in two days. I told her I would speak with you to ascertain how much longer you thought it would be."
"At this point, I am not certain how long it will take," Tamerlane gestured to the newest stack of flexis on his desk. "This is all of the material I need to review to make an informed decision. These are all of the proposals from the World Barons who are interested in Caela. There are also several Commonwealth documents I have obtained concerning that system and that planet. I do not want to put the Empire into direct conflict with the Commonwealth over Caela. From what I have gathered from a few documents, Commonwealth "First Contact" missions are aware of the system, planet and inhabitants. I have had someone researching it for me ever since the World Barons first proposed initiating first contact with the planet. There are several educational missions that have petitioned the Commonwealth for permission to research several primitive planets in several systems around Caela. I am not certain if Caela is one of them yet. It is a very complicated topic. I need to do my due diligence on just how involved the Commonwealth is with the system. As of now, it is still … fair game."
"Perhaps if you were to share this information with Beka," Tyr began as he returned to his seat.
"I would think that Beka is aware of that is going on. I have yet to determine her interest in the planet. Unless she is here … stalling me … uncovering information … for the Commonwealth," Tamerlane put his hand on the stack of flexis. "Since I do not believe she will be forthcoming with me, I will discover it for myself."
"If Beka were here on behalf of the Commonwealth, I am certain she would have made their interest and point of view clear to you," Tyr was perplexed as far as what was going on.
"That is my thought as well," Tamerlane pushed his chair back and got to his feet. He went over to a large display and tapped on the console. A large star map appeared with several systems labelled. Tamerlane pointed at one that was colored red. "One can only assume that Beka has a personal interest in Caela. Any idea why she would be interested in a primitive, backward planet in the middle of no where? If not for the huge financial gain one could obtain from the resources under the surface?"
"I will inform Beka that you are still researching the World Barons' requests," Tyr started to get back to his feet.
"Now that you have taken Beka as your lover," Tamerlane began as he turned off the display and turned toward his father.
"Are you spying on me?" Tyr cut Tamerlane off before he could continue.
"No," Tamerlane shook his head as he walked over to his father. "I am not spying on you. Terra asked me how long you and Beka had been involved. I informed her I was unaware of a personal involvement. She informed me that you and Beka were sexually involved."
"Terra's discovery was unfortunate," Tyr took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It had been disconcerting to Beka that her daughter had found them together. After speaking with her daughter, Beka had been distraught to learn her daughter believed Beka and Tyr had been having an affair for years. Terra faulted Beka's affair with the breakdown of the Hawkins' marriage over the years. Nothing Beka had said could convince Terra than Beka had not been unfaithful to Leydon for years resulting in his wayward ways. Now, Tyr wondered just how it was that Terra Hawkins had the opportunity to inquire about it to Tamerlane. "My relationship with Beka is still none of your concern."
"Everything you do is my concern," Tamerlane put his hand on Tyr's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. "You are my father. Surely you can understand why anything and anyone in your life is of interest to me."
"I understand your interest," Tyr nodded slowly. He knew most of Tamerlane's interest and concerns were about others leveraging Tyr and his relationship to his son to their advantage. Tyr was more than aware of how people attempted to do so. "I will go now so that you may spend the evening with your wives and children. Good evening."
"Good evening," Tamerlane nodded as Tyr turned and started walking to the door.
"Are you certain the Beka and Leydon are ... irreconcilable?" Tamerlane's question stopped Tyr at the door.
"Why do you ask?" Tyr replied without turning from the door.
"Do you find it the least bit … coincidental … that she comes here with this request for Caela … which is much more … convoluted … that it first appeared," Tamerlane replied haltingly. "And after all these years … she is … available and ready … to pursue a relationship … that neither of you ever contemplated … in the last twenty years?"
"Have a nice evening with your family," Tyr finally replied after a long moment. Without further comment, he opened the door and disappeared from Tamerlane's sight.
Tamerlane's eyes remained on the door for a long moment after his father disappeared. A few moments later, Ashan appeared in the open doorway.
"Will there be anything further this evening, your excellency?" Ashan asked as he reached for the handle to pull the door closed.
"Go through the incoming correspondence," Tamerlane nodded as he moved back around his desk and picked up the top flexi in his pile. "Look for anything regarding Caela, proposed Commonwealth First Contact missions, or the Hawkins family. Bring them to me immediately."
"Shall I have someone from the house staff inform your wives you have been delayed?" Ashan asked as he started to close the door behind him.
"No," Tamerlane shook his head as he leaned back in his chair with the first flexi in his hand. He knew neither of them had requested he visit them this evening. His presence would not be missed. He could check in on the babies before he retired for the evening.
"Very good, sire," Ashan replied as the door shut behind him.