Disclaimer: Roswell, and its characters do not belong to me. Melinda Metz, Jason Katims and 20th Century Fox have that particular pleasure. I'm simply borrowing them until the Season 2 DVD's get released.
Chapter Fifty – Five – At the Palace
Isabel had just finished modifying her appearance slightly when the Ambassador walked in.
"Are you ready, Isadra?" he asked.
To go to my probable death? she thought to herself. No, I don't think so. "Yes," she said, giving the Ambassador a dazzling smile. "I think this will be very interesting."
She followed the Ambassador out of the diplomatic offices and down the hallway to the Great Hall.
"Isadra, wait here," said the Ambassador, shoving her into a chair. "I left something in our offices."
"Wouldn't it make more sense for me to go back and get it, Sir?" Isabel asked. "It's what I'm here for."
"No, no, you stay here," said the Ambassador. "To be perfectly honest, Lord Kivar doesn't want anybody without special clearance wandering around the palace. He still hasn't found out who defaced the throne room."
"Oh," said a subdued Isabel. "In that case, I'll just sit here, and not move a muscle."
"Wise decision, my Dear," said the Ambassador.
Isabel watched as he strode down the hall, and out of site. She looked around the hall, and considered hiding a communicator there, but decided against it. The sound of voices drew her attention, and Isabel became aware of voices coming from behind a half closed door across the hall.
"Damn it, they're here, I tell you!" shouted a voice Isabel recognized as Kivar's. "Why can't you find them?"
"Lord Kivar, my people have searched everywhere. They are not here. I promise you. This is simply the working of a bunch of rabble-rousers. The royal four are still on Earth," came the answer from a voice Isabel identified as Kobodi's. "Perhaps if Princess Vilondra were to address the people, they would see that this has nothing to do with the return of the royal four."
"You know she cannot speak," said Kivar in a deadly voice. "However, the next prototype should be ready soon. She will address the people, but I don't want to wait that long. I received word today that the work on the guidance system for our weapon is nearly complete. Actually Plash Nevenia informed me that instead of a new guidance system, they've found a way to create a sensor that will direct the energy bolts to their target. Now if your people could simply track down, Zan and the others, my problems would be over."
The door opened, and Isabel saw Kivar, and behind him, Kobodi, preparing to exit the room. She shrank back against the chair, hoping against hope that they wouldn't notice her, but it was to no avail.
"You there, what are you doing?" Kivar demanded when he drew abreast of where Isabel sat.
"I'm Isadra," said Isabel, drawing herself up straighter. She was not going to allow herself to be cowed by Kivar. "I'm a member of the diplomatic trainees from the Training Academy. The Ambassador and I were on our way to the Great Hall for a meeting, when he realized that he forgot something. He told me to sit in this chair, and not leave this spot."
"Take care of her!" Kivar ordered, and Isabel forced herself to look directly at Kivar, not showing any fear at all. "Wait!" he said, turning to Kivar. "I admire her spirit. Don't kill her, simply erase this episode from her mind."
"As you wish, Lord Kivar," said Kobodi.
He stared at Isabel, and gave her mind a shove. Isabel felt him trying to warp her mind, and she played along. When he was done, he grabbed her by the arm.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I don't have to answer you," Isabel said in a haughty voice. "You are a member of the palace cleaning staff. I am a member of the diplomatic corp. Unhand me this instant."
"Excellent," Kivar murmured. "Come along, there is much work to be done," he said, turning to Kobodi.
Isabel watched as the two walked down the hall, and fell back into the chair, shaking with fear.
"Isadra, are you okay?" asked the Ambassador, and Isabel jumped with fright, unaware of his arrival.
"Yes," she said, her voice still shaking. "Some members of the palace cleaning staff just accosted me, wanting to know why I was here."
"What did you do?" asked the Ambassador. He had just seen Lord Kivar, and General Kobodi, and both of them let him know of their displeasure at finding one of his staff sitting in the hallway, alone."
"I told them I was a member of the diplomatic corp, and didn't have to answer to them," said Isabel. "But after they left, I fell apart. I don't like confrontations, Ambassador."
"Nor do I," said the Ambassador, pleased to hear that Isabel's story matched that of Lord Kivar and Kobodi. He was fond of the girl, and didn't want to have to kill her for being a spy. "Come along," he said. "We have much work to do."
A still shaking Isabel stood up, and followed the Ambassador down the corridor to the Great Hall, her mind on the conversation she had overheard.
Once in the Great Hall, the Ambassador walked to the table that had been set up in the middle of the room. He sat down in a chair, and instructed Isabel to sit at a small table directly behind him.
"Lord Kivar will be here in a few minutes, and we will go over the treaties," he instructed. "You are simply to sit, and observe, and hand me the different treaties as I require."
"Of course, Ambassador," said Isabel. "I only hope I don't disappoint you. Lord Kivar is quite an imposing figure. I'm still rather nervous at the thought of even being in his presence."
"Isadra, you will do fine," said the Ambassador. "I would not have chosen you for this assignment if I didn't think you were capable. Simply push your fears down inside, and pretend you are an actress on a stage. You will be fine."
Kivar walked into the Great Hall as the Ambassador finished speaking, and joined him at the large table.
"Good day, Ambassador," said Kivar.
"Good day, Lord Kivar," answered the Ambassador, standing up. "Allow me to present to you once more, the latest addition to my diplomatic staff. This is Isadra, she is a student at the Training Academy."
Kivar stood up and walked over to the table where Isabel stood.
"Good morning, Isadra," said Kivar with Isabel considered an evil smile. "How are you on this beautiful morning."
"Good morning, Lord Kivar," said Isabel, bowing her head slightly. "I am honored to be in your presence."
"And why is that?" asked Kivar.
"You have done such wonderful things for the people of our world," she said, flashing him blinding smile. "I decided long ago that it would be a great privilege to serve you in any capacity possible. When I was chosen to be a member of the diplomatic corp, it was like a dream come true for me."
"Your loyalty will be well rewarded, Isadra," said Kivar, satisfied that the mind warp was working. "Please, everyone, be seated. Let us work on these treaties. I have other things I need to accomplish today."
Kivar and the Ambassador sat down at the large table, and Isabel took a seat at the small table behind the Ambassador.
"Ambassador," said Kivar. "Tell your assistant to join us at the table. She will learn nothing hovering behind you like that."
"Isadra, you heard Lord Kivar," said the Ambassador. "Please join us."
Isabel gathered up the paperwork and took a seat next to the Ambassador, and listened while the two men discussed the treaties on the table before them. When they were finished, Isabel quickly gathered up the paperwork, and waited quietly to leave.
"Ambassador, I have a few things I want to discuss with you, privately. "Isadra, please feel free to wander around the Great Hall, and the Gallery, but don't go any further," said Kivar.
"Yes, Lord Kivar," said Isabel, bowing her head subserviently.
"If it would please you, Lord Kivar, Isadra has some work waiting for her in the diplomatic offices. With your permission, may she also have access to our rooms so that she may get her work done?" asked the Ambassador.
"Of course, Ambassador. Far be it from me to keep your assistant from her work. Please feel free to examine the gallery at your leisure, Isadra," Kivar added, addressing Isabel.
"Thank you Lord Kivar." She gathered up the paperwork and prepared to leave. She returned to the diplomatic offices, and quickly finished her work and prepared to leave.
Isabel made sure as many people as possible saw her when she left the palace. Once she was out of the palace, she ducked into an alley, and changed her appearance, and snuck back into a palace grounds through a side entrance Che'koth had told her about.
She carefully made her way to the guard quarters, where she hid a communicator inside a small niche in a rock wall. From there, she made her way back into the palace. Once inside, she kept to the shadows, hiding the communicators in a variety of places, including the grand ballroom. She toyed with the idea of returning to the throne room, but decided against it, in case Kivar was having it watched.
She walked down a long corridor, trying to remain in the shadows when she saw a figure up ahead.
Oh God, she thought. Who is that up there? Even as she thought the words, the figure ahead of her turned around and walked towards her. Isabel felt the blood leave her face when she came face to face with her double.
Taking a chance, she passed her hand over her face, and restored her appearance. The double looked at her curiously, and first touched her own face, then reached out to touch Isabel's.
"Yes," said Isabel, softly. "You're me. It's very confusing, isn't it?" Acting without conscious thought, Isabel fired an energy bolt into her double's chest, causing her to fall unconscious to the floor. Grabbing her under the arms, Isabel dragged her into a nearby room. She locked the door behind her and surveyed the room. She smiled when she saw a large armoire against a wall. Quickly, she removed the clothing from her double and stripped off her own clothes. She dressed in the double's clothing, and then carried her to the armoire and locked her inside, along with her clothing.
"I hope you'll be okay in there," she said. She grabbed the communicators in their bag, and then schooled her features into the vacant mask worn by her double.
Feeling very afraid, Isabel stole back out into the hallway, and resumed her surveillance. She managed to place two more of the communicators before a large hand fell heavily onto her shoulder. Fighting back the urge to scream, she turned around and looked directly into the eyes of Kivar.