Beka sighed to herself as she walked from her bedroom back into the main area of her suite.
After a tense dinner that ended in her son being dragged away by security, the evening had only gotten worse. Tamerlane was his usually arrogant, demanding, commanding self. He irritated and infuriated Beka to no end by his tone and demeanour as he spoke at them at the dinner table. After he had left, Beka had inquired to Terra about the flexi Tamerlane had thrown at her daughter. Terra had politely informed her mother that it was none of her business. When Beka tried to protest Terra's assertions, Terra had excused herself and left the table.
Beka's frustrations turned on Tyr after Terra left them. Beka felt a great deal of regret about unloading on Tyr about his failure to act when she and her children were being attacked. She blamed him for Tamerlane and his goons dragging her son from the patio. She belittled him for not stopping Tamerlane's assault on her son. Beka had even accused him being part of whatever scheme Tamerlane was up to. Then informed him to stay the hell away from her as she stormed from the patio.
She poured herself a glass of water and was about to retire to her bedroom when the door access sounded. She really had no desire for any more confrontations that evening. She really just wanted to climb in bed and try to forget the evening ever happened. She was upset, angry, disillusioned, embarrassed … by the events that took place, by the treatment of her son, the actions and words of her son and her outburst at Tyr.
She took a deep breath before reaching over to press the access button to open the door. She was not surprised to see Tyr standing in the corridor.
"You and I need to talk," Tyr said simply when the door opened. Beka gazed up at him for a long moment.
"We do," Beka nodded as she stepped to the side and gestured for Tyr to enter her room.
Tyr stepped inside and waited until the door was closed behind him to follow Beka over to the sofa. She took a seat and gestured for him to take the seat beside her. She took a long drink of water before placing it on the table and turning to look at him.
"Tonight was horrible," Beka began when Tyr failed to speak.
"I cannot disagree," Tyr replied simply.
"Your son is a tyrant," Beka said as she looked at Tyr. "I cannot believe he had the nerve to assault Kindred …"
"Your son was drunk and belligerent," Tyr cut Beka off before she could continue. "If Tamerlane had not appeared, most likely I would have had him removed."
"He had too much wine and was not thinking clearly," Beka found herself defending Kindred.
"You son is under the mistaken impression that you and I have been involved for much longer than is true," Tyr replied as he turned on the sofa to face Beka.
"I can only guess Terra told him that she had found us together," Beka sighed deeply as she gazed over at Tyr. "She and I talked. I assured her that … things … between you and I had only just happened. I assured her that you and I had never had this kind of relationship in all the years I had been visiting Arktos for business."
"Either she did not believe you or she failed to inform your son of those facts," Tyr reached over and took Beka's hand in his.
"I will talk to him tomorrow," Beka put her other hand of Tyr's and gave it a gentle squeeze. "About the things I said …"
"You are in Tamerlane's home. You are a guest of the Empire," Tyr replied slowly as he tried to figure out how to let Beka know what a delicate place he was in at the moment. "Tamerlane's word is law. Tamerlane's decisions are final. Tamerlane's edicts are to be followed without question. I have certain freedoms when it comes to speaking with my son. However, not even I can countermand his orders once given. There was a time when I could. That is no longer true. Tamerlane is the Emperor of the Nietzschean Empire. He no longer requires a regent. He no longer wants or needs a regent. He is a sovereign ruler."
"I had no idea things had changed so much," Beka frowned slightly as she considered what Tyr had said. In the earliest years of her visiting Arktos, she had met with Tyr and Tamerlane. As the years went on, Tyr took a more supportive role while Tamerlane led the meetings with Beka. Most recently, Beka had begun meeting with Tamerlane alone. Tyr would appear near the end of the meeting and she and Tyr would visit before she would take her leave. In some ways, her interactions with the Nietzschean Empire reflected what must have been going on throughout the Nietzschean Empire over the years. Only for her, her former relationship with Tyr most likely shielded her from his rule when he was running the Empire.
"It was inevitable. For Tamerlane to rule effectively, his rule must be absolute," Tyr shrugged slightly before squeezing her hand again. "Although it is … difficult … to … surrender … that kind of power … it has always been Tamerlane's power to wield. I am still very involved in the Empire. I still hold influence with my son. It is just private and no longer public."
"So you can talk to him about Kindred and Leydon," Beka looked at Tyr hopefully. "Get through to him. Help him come to his senses?"
"When the effects of the alcohol have worn off, Kindred needs to speak with Tamerlane. Kindred needs to apologize to Tamerlane for his words and behaviour," Tyr began.
"So you want my son to grovel at Tamerlane's feet for forgiveness?" Beka pulled her hand gently from Tyr's
"If Kindred makes the effort, Tamerlane will be more lenient on him," Tyr informed Beka. "There are any number of charges which could be placed against Kindred for his actions and words this evening. Your son took a swing as the Emperor of the Nietzschean Empire. You cannot tell me he would still be a free man if he were attempt to assault a Commonwealth Triumvir."
"No, he wouldn't," Beka had to admit. She guessed the more familiar relationship she had formed with Tamerlane over the years did not extend to her most likely put her children a little more at ease and allowed them to not think about whom they were dealing with. Beka could only assume they saw Tamerlane as nothing more than any other Nietzschean when he was ,in fact, a ruler of an empire.
"Tamerlane appears to not want to place those charges. However, the action, words and threats were witnessed by at least two of the Royal Guard. Kindred going to Tamerlane and apologizing and admitting to his misdeeds will ensure that Tamerlane … forgives … Kindred's drunken transgressions."
"I will speak with Kindred in the morning," Beka agreed with the slight nod of her head. In some ways she understood. Tamerlane needed to 'save face' with those who had witness the events.
"Leydon is another story completely," Tyr shook his head. "There is nothing I can do to sway Tamerlane's decisions there. Leydon is in the judicial system of the Empire. I will say you should encourage Leydon to accept the plea deal that Tamerlane has arranged. Leydon must confess to the attempted theft. Leydon must pay certain fines to both the Museum, Valhaughffen and to the Empire. Leydon must agree to certain restrictions on his travel within and through the Nietzschean Empire. The ship and all of the contents of that ship will become the property of the Empire as well."
"And if he does not agree to the plea bargain," Beka asked hesitantly. She had no idea if Leydon would agree to confessing to the failed theft. Leydon had never actually been detained and convicted of any of his crimes.
"Leydon and his accomplices will be tried and convicted in a Nietzschean court," Tyr replied bluntly.
"So he will have his day in court," Beka mused lightly. Leydon had never been convicted of any crime in a court. There was never enough evidence of the crime by the time it went to trial for Leydon to be convicted. Any evidence always seemed to vanish.
"Leydon and his accomplices will be convicted Beka," Tyr shook his head as he reached over to caress her jaw and turn her head to face him. "There is video evidence of Leydon committing the theft. Not all of the security measures were deactivated during the hack. Not all of the security measures were on the specs for the Museum system."
"So Leydon doesn't have a chance," Beka frowned slightly.
She could not believe he would be that careless. She could not believe her children had been so oblivious. But most of all, she could not fathom how Terra of all people had missed anything when hacking into the security system on a backwater, armpit of a drift like Valhaughffen. Even with a museum with treasures, there were few systems that her daughter could not infiltrate if given the right motivation and time. She had spent most of her younger years with Harper, learning everything he knew before learning even more on her own. The simple fact that Tyr was telling her that Terra had screwed up made Beka know that her family really was up to more than just lifting some pieces from the Valhaughffen museum. Beka just had no idea how Valhaughffen, Arktos and Caela all fit into their scheme. And no one was talking to her.
"Do not think there is a chance of the evidence suddenly … disappearing," Tyr continued as he caressed Beka's jaw. "The footage was copied from the Museum and brought to Arktos to be reviewed, authenticated and placed into official evidence. If Leydon goes to court, he will be convicted. There is a strong chance that the circumstantial evidence could convict Kindred as an accomplice. There is also some evidence of a third person being involved in the infiltration of the security system itself."
"A third accomplice?" Beka's brow furrowed slightly. She felt her heart hammer in her chest when she thought about Terra paying overwatch from the ship.
"It has been posited that the third person involved in the actually system hacking was operating remotely," Tyr put up his hand when Beka started to protest. "There is no hard evidence of her involvement. However, there is video evidence of Terra, Leydon and Kindred visiting the Museum together a few days before the attempted theft. If Leydon agrees to the plea deal, Tamerlane will allow the matter to be settled. The investigation into Leydon's possible accomplices will cease."
"What will happen if Leydon chooses court and loses?" Beka felt a nervousness run through her as she gazed at Tyr.
"Leydon will be convicted. He will be sentenced to serve 5 years on a Nietzschean penal colony. He will mostly likely be assigned to a labor facility," Tyr replied after some thought. "If Kindred is convicted, he would mostly likely be sentenced and serve a year at a labor facility. If any evidence can be found to link her to the crime, Terra would most likely receive a short sentence since there is little evidence against her. Her sentence could vary from a fine, a short detention center stay to a maximum of a year at a labor facility."
"So if Leydon takes the plea, he gets a hard slap on the ass and his accomplices are never tried," Beka nodded slowly. "If he fights it … my children could end up in a labor facility."
Tyr nodded as that was his understanding of the deal Tamerlane had agreed to make.
"Could Tamerlane not pardon them all?" Beka looked at Tyr's hopefully.
"Tamerlane will not pardon them if Leydon turns down the plea agreement," Tyr shook his head. "Tamerlane prefers to negotiate and thoroughly investigate on the front end. If one chooses to take a chance, Tamerlane will do nothing to help after the conviction has been entered into the records. It would make him appear weak."
"This is a mess," Beka sighed as Tyr caress her jaw once more.
"Surely Leydon would not risk his children," Tyr seemed to consider it as he spoke. "He can overcome his … arrogance … and take the plea deal."
"I don't know," Beka sighed deeply. "I truly do not know."
"I should go," Tyr said after a long minute had passed and Beka seemed lost in her thought. Tyr's fingertips slipped from her face before he got to his feet. His movements pulled Beka from her thoughts as she got to her feet as well.
"I have several meetings in the morning," Tyr informed Beka as he looked down at her.
"I have a few things to deal with in the morning myself," Beka frowned slightly as she thought about the conversation she needed to have with her children and perhaps her husband.
"Good night Beka," Tyr tilted her face up to his before brushing his lips lightly against hers. He started to straighten just as Beka caught one of the long locs of hair and tugged him back down to her.
"Stay," Beka nearly whispered as she gazed into his eyes. Before he could reply, her lips pressed against his once then twice before capturing them in a deep kiss.
