Chapter 4

Kina pulled herself up a ladder, following the playful lights swirling in the walls and dancing about urging her upward. By her count inside her mental clock, it was drawing near five minutes' worth of winding ever higher through the tower's "lining", following her little "helpers". Her back ached where she had been scored by the yahg's thorn over her shoulderblade, and her chest was tightening with pain from the chair corner having hit her there.

She hadn't noticed these injuries enough to let them hinder her while she was fleeing the yahgs, but now that she was safer inside the walls of Nolyn Tower, the aching began to pronounce moreso than before….She climbed to the top of the ladder and stepped onto the next catwalk….The level platform was wide, and blood trails could be seen leading to a door ahead of her….Relief at seeing another doorway, she ran down the catwalk towards the door, and the panel reflecting her running towards it slid open as she reached for a place to open the door by….The doorway was double-sealed, and after the first retracted into its containment within the wall, the outer door swung open—yet as "unprompted" save for her proximity being its cause for engagement—and out on the exposed level of the tower, Kina saw Bildea with Konis laying on the ground next to his knee, the other drell kneeling over him and looking to the doorway….Bildea's face transformed from a worried scowl to a wash of relief as he stood and went to her coming through the exit, "….Shit, I was going to go back for you and leave him—" He caught her as she stumbled into his arms, "….My….Kina?…." He dragged her from the doorway now closing, and settled her to lay down next to Konis on the surface of this outer "walk-about" of the tower, and as he turned her over, Bildea saw the score across her shoulderblade, angry and bleeding, "….Kina, did you get this from the yahgs—"

"My chest hurts, Billy…." Her hand squeezed his forearm, "….but I think I'm okay…."

"….Were you hit in the chest?…." He pulled aside her dress-top just enough to see the start of a ring of bruising spreading over her upper chest area, and quickly recovered her skin, "….Kina."

"Billy, find Cartira."

"Kina…." He saw her eyes roll to Konis in her sockets, and her body became still, the color paling in her lips, "….Kina!"

2167….

Kina was carried over Konis's shoulder into her room, and he brought her into the bathroom, put her in the shower on the floor and sprayed her down with cold water….She was still out cold, and he proceeded to clean her, then removed her from the shower to tend to her bandages and injuries both from when she had fought Belle Elle and earned those—as well as his he had inflicted….He bandaged her head where she had been hit countless times, and laid her on her side on the bed after dressing her….She would recover, he hoped.

Bildea leaned against the doorframe, watching Konis arrange her and then leave the side of her bed to depart. She appeared as though she were having a bad dream with the way her face was in a grimace while she slept on her side facing the door, "….You're a mean drell, Konis….Don't try to forget it," Bildea gave him a critical glare as he left on his right side.

"I follow my orders, Billy," Konis stopped next to him, "….and so should you if you don't want Them in your head."

"I guess you're not as tough as everyone—but me—thinks you are…." Konis turned his face to look at Bildea's next to him, and faced ahead again to walk forward into the outer rooms….Bildea watched him go, then left the doorframe to enter farther into Kina's bedroom.

He took a seat on the edge of the bed….The door sealed shut….He tapped her arm with the back of his knuckles, "….Wake up, Lady Tian….Come on, you're tougher than him…." Kina made no indication she had heard him….Bildea looked down at the relaxed loungewear Konis had been considerate enough to dress her into….He looked at the bandage to her head where Konis had hit her, and the residual swelling over her face….She had her lips partly opened, and Bildea moved his fingers to under her chin, pressing it to close her mouth.

Her chin was bruised and limpid under his fingertips.

Convinced she was truly "out", he left his fingers against her chin, hoping for something gentle to get through to her, ….I can't believe I'm supposed to fall in love with you….You're not really my type….Damn, sucks to be you….He looked at her swollen lips, one cut on the upper lip, beset with another fresher, clotted gash treated by Konis's healing ointment.

Bildea's eyes winced together….He felt badly for her, and he leaned forward, never having kissed a woman, but thinking….Well, maybe it's worth a try. He tapped her shoulder just before he was about to kiss her, to see if she really wouldn't notice….Why am I even wondering?….And with another shrug—He was supposed to fall in love with her anyway—and just out of pity, maybe a little curiosity, Bildea "pecked" her innocently on the mouth corner….He unbent from her and sat up, "….Nah," he shook his head, spine tightening, "….not for me…." His tebris lifted and fell against his throat and jaw as he looked at her, her lips closed, resting in the interminable grimace….How do I really know if she's the one….She survived….She's tough, tougher than anyone I know….She probably could have taken all those guys at Wrinkle's…..A small smile fit to his lips and he stood from the bed.

He reached down, grabbed the hem of the blanket, and pulled it over her, wrapping Kina with the half and bundling her up in it, doing the same with the other side like a taco, "….Sleep well, Kid," he patted her shoulder through the blanket, "….No dreams is best I've found…." He gazed upon her a little longer, still uncertain if she was the one….but the Elders had told him he would know with certainty when he found her, and she would survive the death they had in store for her….Konis had brought through enough women for Bildea to expect only one outcome from each examination, enough to convince he would never find "her"—the one They expected was still living, but hiding.

He commanded the door to open and left.

Taking the lift to the meeting rooms, Bildea stepped out into another hallway and took a right after walking down this, heading towards the sound of voices….The noise of the others led him down the hallway, and he followed the long bend of the corner into rooms filled with people standing inside the main one as well as at the edges, and in the entrances to others….More thralls—"Spinners"—He walked in to join them.

He looked about and located Cate's headsilks and visor, the quarian's cables poking from behind his air-tight helmet, next to Billa—next to a tall turian they all called Aldus Kazamrahn, and Konis was nowhere to be seen among the fifteen or so clustered about these three speaking, the rest listening to their back-and-forth….Probably discussing what Konis enlightened us with regarding Wrinkle's assassination, and then, of course, Kina's "tagging along"….Bildea took up his lean against the wall of the doorway he came through.

"….If Wrinkle wasn't dead by his own clanmember, we could have carried on with the plan," Aldus moved his impressive, fringed-head over the rest as he addressed them, apparently placating some disgruntlement with things not going as these were supposed to have gone, "….Until we know for certain that Wrinkle's next-of-kin planned the move, we cannot assume responsibility for next steps, and that would be our Elders' wishes….not yours," he looked at someone with some pointedness in this statement, "….We will have to go ahead with our other plans before stepping into thatmess….and more observation, and counsel, will be held."

"But if we don't move soon," Cate's voice, clear to Bildea thanks to his translator and broadcasted from the helmet's speaker, "….the opportunity to set the next action will be lost, and by my calculations and my observations, the result will be less than desirable to our Elders."

"They'll understand, Cate, and I think we'll not miss the window anyway," Aldus's glittering eyes turned in Bildea's direction, "….When'd he get here."

"Just now, your Grace," Bildea crossed his arms, "….I was below with the new 'Lady Tian'."

Aldus nodded curtly, "….She took a beating from 'K'," he meant Konis, "….She going to bounce back?"

"She'll recover," and then under his breath so others wouldn't hear, "….hopefully."

Aldus returned his attention to Cate and Billa, "….Gislayne wants us in the meantime to look into this Benezia matriarch….What have you pulled up so far."

"She's got 'pull' in The Republic," Cate filled into the role of answering, "….Kind of a 'mouth' over there, and most allrespect her word—She'd be ideal for helping us find the resources we'd need for the Elders' project."

"Does she have a weakness?"

"She's got one daughter….We could use her against the matriarch if we had to persuade Benezia to cooperate with us."

"Located?…." Billa and Cate nodded, "….Any bond-mate?"

"None we've been able to find so far, which could mean the bond-mate's dead, well-protected from public knowledge, or just out of sight and staying hidden."

"Find out who the bond-mate is, and I'll see who we can get closer to Benezia, to start spinning her the 'lines'."

"Done," Billa turned to Cate, "….You ready?…." Cate nodded and he and Billa started to make their way out of the room, heading towards Bildea.

Bildea's gaze passed to each of them as they came closer, "….I'll be waiting when you two want to move out."

Billa stopped when they were shoulder to shoulder, "….You get duty to watch Kina, Billy," his voice was lowered, "….since you two were so 'friendly' on Elan-Nine….Gislayne only wants one person to be her 'friend' here, and I recommended you….Konis is only permitted to train her now, Billy….Make sure that's all he does."

Bildea nodded, "….I'm alright with that….Does he have instructions to train her again today?"

Billa let off a slow shrug, "….I think it depends on how soon she gets back on her feet….Between Belle Elle and him….Just help her….I'm….'fond' of her."

Another nod by Bildea, understanding, "….She's tough."

"Let's hope that's enough," Billa's hand rested on Bildea's shoulder, squeezed, and then he left with Cate.

"Cate," Bildea stopped him from leaving just yet, "….you got more of that drink stored?"

"Check the fridge….I made extra."

"Great, thanks."

Finally, Cate and Billa were gone….They had stepped through another set of doors and were in their own planning realm now. "Billy, get up here," Aldus waved him to come through the crowd.

He went through the debrief of what he'd missed, having been with Kina and then with Konis and her.…By the time they were finished, Konis arrived and went alone with Aldus into an adjoining meeting room to talk privately….The rest of the group dispersed.

Bildea went back to find his own quarters in the lower station's levels, but on the floor of his room, he found Gislayne waiting for him in the shared space of the zigzag hall between his room and Kina's.

"Onun, get inside."

"Yes, Mistress Gislayne."

He went into his room and Gislayne followed, shutting the door behind them with her command, "….Seal and secure…." Bildea had seated himself on the bed instead of standing to be addressed, "….You interfered with Lady Tian's training….Why."

Bildea winced at the lash of her tone, "….She was unconscious, Mistress—" She willed him "up" by his neck, Bildea's hands grabbing at the invisible collar about his throat, lifting his legs and feet off the bed and floor a meter high.

"You are never to interfere with the Elders' wishes, Bildea….It will cost you, and I have no qualms against punishing you myself…." She released him, Bildea gasping for air as he landed on the bed on his seat once more, "….Have I made myself clear."

"You want her to succeed…." Bildea clutched his throat, catching his breath, "….or should I just let you….kill her since you're so….threatened by her replacing you—" With her will, she flung him off the bed and into the wall by his dresser cabinet.

"Onun…." She looked through him, her yellow eyes flat lines, "….your rebelliousness will get you killed one day…." He made no reply as he pushed himself up from the floor….She flattened her thin lips together, "….If she is to succeed me, she must prove herself strong enough, Billy….'Unconscious' or not, you will let Konis train her as necessary….no matter how brutal he is with her."

"He doesn't even like to hurt women—" She willed him "up" again and threw him into the next closest wall….The arrangement of shelves there activated and opened up over his head as he fell to the floor and rolled himself over to get up.

"Bildea, learn to keep your mouth shut," she floated closer, "….It doesn't matter what anyone thinks—for or against—the Elders' desires….We are here to only act as they bid us….Remember that….Should be easy for a drell….Open the door!…." The door de-secured and unsealed, letting her float through it.

Bildea growled quietly as he stood, closing the shelves and cabinets, "….Fuck this….Fuck this…." Sore, he went to his bed and flopped down.

He turned his face into his pillow, bent his elbow over his brow, and Bildea cried….He could remember the sound of his breathing there into the pillow, across the lounge area from Kina's room and at an angle from her door, before he fell asleep….In his sleep, he had dreams of himself when he was a child, "alive" before he encountered the agent that had brought him to the Elder Orbs at Monos Station….He had been witness to the executions, the kill-plots, the meticulous plans, and supported Aldus, Gislayne, among others….He had seen when Billa, Cate, and Konis had been brought in, how they had been changed, how they had all been bonded to each other….They had all been trained by each others' peers, and for a while they had been the best group, the "most effective" cell, and Bildea had found a friend in Cate….but then Bildea started questioning what they were doing….He had been there most of his life, so he felt "entitled" to question the Elders and their plans….and he had confided his thoughts to Cate, and both had been punished.

Bildea would always wonder if the reason Cate had lost his legs' full function was due to what Bildea had done of "involving" him in his fantasy of leaving Monos Station and the Elders….forever.

The last dream he had before he woke was of he as a child, walking through a dilapidated city, and a small drellahna with pearl scales was waiting for him round the next corner….In her hands was a doll that reminded him of a dirty hanar, soiled with stains, its limbs bunched in her fingers, and she looked at him with wide black eyes inside translucent pearl eyelids, a thin shift covering her small body, "….Are you Bildea?…."

Her voice was in his head as he opened his eyes and winced at the soreness in his neck and side from suddenly trying to get up, the abuse by Gislayne setting his muscles tight already….He forced himself to get up, went into the bathroom, undid his fly and relieved himself, draining into the latrine before stripping and getting into a shower….He dressed afterwards, and went out of his room to check on Kina.

She wasn't in her room, however….He "puzzled" about for a bit, staring into the bathroom, checking the closet, then going into the common area to look for her….Finding no sign of her, he took the lift to the dining rooms.

There he found her in the middle of the curtained tables, seated in a chair by herself, "….Mind if I join you?…." She looked up at him, her bandage stale with blood and ointment, her face swollen and bruised with stripes.

"Nobody's sitting here," she looked at the chair across from her, "….Why not…." And she pushed it into a spin with her foot for him.

Bildea stopped its spin with his hand on the back, seated himself, and turned in the chair to her, "….How are you feeling after having your ass handed back to you?"

Her puffy eyes narrowed, "….Swell."

He could not resist a chuckle at her "angry chipmunk" impression, however in bad taste it was, and to her glare, "….I told you, you 'fucked up'….Should have never gotten in that car with Konis."

"You watched?…." Her eyes were so puffy, he could not believe that she could see, what with continually squinting at him.

Hesitating, realizing he'd slipped with the detail out, "….I'm supposed to watch….That's my role."

She hit the table with her fist, causing the glassware and utensils to jump upwards, "….You're all bastards!….I want to be let go—"

"Yeah, you know what?….Too late," Bildea banged the table, too, with his fist and forearm—and winced from the shock of hitting the surface, causing the soreness in his neck to bark at him for doing so reckless with his body in its current state, "….Too late, 'Lady Fucking Tian'….Too damn late."

She settled back into her chair—and her hurt, her anger—simmering across from him, "….You supposed to be the 'good guy', I hear….My friend," her voice hissed and mocked simultaneously, "….and Konis the 'bad guy'?"

Bildea's tebris fluffed with indignation, and Kina thought—under any other circumstances—it would have been a "pretty" gesture by a drell, "….Damn it, I'm not supposed to be anybody besides whatever I'm expected to be….and right now, that involves…." His voice tapered and his glare sharpened on her, "…..I got stuck with you."