Drs. Lewis, Padameshi, Dakar and Prescotti were in the JFM labs making preparations in anticipation of Dakari's return. Drs. Lewis and Dakar went into another room to check on some sample and left Drs. Padameshi and Prescotti alone. Dr. Padameshi decided to take advantage of the brief respite.
"So Dr. Prescotti, I must say I am very glad to finally meet you. I am aware of your work in the field of general medicine but I did not know that you were an expert in it as well. I thought Physics was your primary focus?" Dr. Padameshi asked.
"It is." Dr. Prescotti said as she continued to check their prepatory work.
"So I know we are in the middle of crisis, but everyone has to eat. I was wondering if you would like to grab something to eat." Dr. Padameshi
"Thank you, Dr. Padameshi, but I would like to stay nearby." Dr. Prescotti replied.
"Everyone needs sustenance. Even in a crisis."
"I am not hungry." Dr. Prescotti replied.
"You mean you haven't allowed yourself to stop to eat something."
"Dr. Padameshi, my Mummy's life hangs in the balance. Food is the last thing on my mind." Dr. Prescotti replied.
"Well, fat lotta good you will be to The Regnant if you don't keep your energy up." Dr. Padameshi said.
"Dr. Padameshi, really I am fine." Dr. Prescotti replied.
"I think not." Julian said as he entered the room.
"Hey!" Emilia said as she went up to her brother and fell into his arms.
"Dr. Padameshi is right. You should eat something. When Dakari returns you will have a lot to do." Julian said.
"Not you too." Emilia said as she held her brother.
"Is there anything really pressing?" Julian said as he looked to Dr. Padameshi then looked back to Emilia.
"I don't know if I should leave." Emilia said.
"You know Mummy and Mother don't like it when you work yourself into the ground." Julian said.
"Look who's talking." Emilia smiled as she looked up at her younger brother.
"Go. I will stay here with Mummy, and will come find you once Dakari returns. I will also let Drs. Lewis and Makar where you went off to?"
Emilia released her brother and turned to Dr. Padameshi.
"So what do you suggest, Doctor?"
"There is a place that serves the best Shawarma in town." Dr. Padameshi said.
"Really? Where?" Emilia asked.
"The JFM Cafeteria, of course." Dr. Padameshi replied with a hint of humor. That actually made Emilia laugh. Dr. Padameshi motioned Emilia to the door.
"After you." Dr. Padameshi motioned towards the door.
"Thank you." Emilia said as she walked out the door. "What is Shawarma, by the way?" Emilia asked as they headed for the Cafeteria.
The Queen Consort sat in the JFM's main conference room on a call with Regent Saladin and the Regency Council with Bo, Trick, Antony, Jock, and Elena. Present on the Presidium side of the call were Ariella, Masilo Prescotti, The Regnant's younger brother, Chione, The Regnant's younger sister. The Queen Consort's siblings Bearnard and Lillian. Yammy, The Regnant's eldest sibling was on the call but joined in from the Prescotti Homelands. The new communications system had been fortuitously installed in the JFM the day The Regnant arrived. Bo still was floored by the effect of it all. It was as if they were all sitting inside Regency Council chambers itself within the Presidium.
"Your Majesty, how is Her Majesty?" Regent Saladin asked.
"She is stable for now." The Queen Consort replied.
"I should be there to stand watch." Regent Saladin said.
"And Ari would be most touched, but you are needed there." The Queen Consort replied.
"Your Majesty, the Realm remains deeply concerned." Taiosech Sandalli said.
"I know." The Queen Consort replied.
"Your Majesty, have you discovered yet who may have planned this attack on Her Majesty?" Illia, the Acharyani, the head, of the Monadori Sanctuary asked. This was the one person Bo had not met during her initial visit to the Presidium.
"Dakari is pursuing a lead as we speak." The Queen Consort replied.
"How close are you capturing this lead, Your Majesty?" Yammy asked.
"Close, Yammy." The Queen Consort replied.
"This attack occurred on the Human plane. Your plane, Your Excellency." Masilo Prescotti directed at Trick.
"And, Your Excellency?" Trick challenged.
"What His Excellency is not-so hinting at is The Regency Council have discussed options for punishment, options fully supported by the Parliament of Fae." Regent Saladin informed.
"What are the options?" The Queen Consort asked.
"First and foremost, the perpetrators behind this attack are executed." Taioseach Sandalli replied.
"That goes without saying." Grand Primus Cheles chimed in.
"The second is sanctions." Taioseach Sandalli continued. Bearnard grunted loudly in response.
"The third is destruction of the plane from whence the perpetrator came." Taioseach Sandalli finished.
"That is not an option!" Bo blurted out. Everyone looked to Bo except for the Queen Consort who continued to look straight ahead.
"Your Royal Highness, even though you may one day inherit the Throne you are still new to the ways of the Presidium." Taioseach Sandalli said.
"Well, there will just have to be new ways. If the perpetrator of this attack originates from this plane, I agree they should be dealt with, sanctions even, but exterminating an entire plane of existence is like killing a cockroach with a nuke. No, that is not an option." Bo said with determination.
"Your Royal Highness, the attack upon Her Majesty's person immediately sanctions whatever action or actions are necessary to respond, contrary to even what you may deem objectionable." Grand Primus Cheles replied.
"I must add I have been in meetings with the Hersirs who are determined upon a war footing if this escalates." Thaddeus Pela, Antony's Deputy Pashan directed to Antony.
"Keep the battle talk to a minimum among the Hersirs until as such time we receive direction to act, Pela." Antony said.
"Yes, Pashan." Pela replied.
"Your Majesty, I know The Regnant is your wife, but even you must realize that extermination of an entire plane is extreme." Bo urged before The Queen Consort. The Queen Consort looked at Bo.
"While I may be The Queen Consort, you are The Princess Royal. You can countermand any decision of mine as the next Queen. Is that your wish?" The Queen Consort replied. Bo leaned back a bit and took a deep breath as all eyes fell on her.
"Your Majesty, if I had been the 'Bo' ten years ago, I would have presumed to have known better than you, but time and experience has taught me that while I can tread courageously I cannot do so impulsively. I may be The Princess Royal, but I am in no position to presume over your judgment, particularly where The Regnant is concerned. All I ask is for a proportional response to the crime. The crime may have been committed on this plane, but we do have indications it may not have originated on this plane. Give us a chance to get to the bottom of this." Bo argued. Trick smiled to himself, clearly impressed with Bo at that very moment. The Queen Consort returned her gaze back in the direction of the audience on the call, but said nothing in response, seemingly in thought about what Bo had said.
"Your Majesty?" Regent Saladin queried.
"Your Majesty, this attack on Her Majesty cannot go unaddressed." Bearnard implored. The Queen Consort looked at her brother and then surveyed the audience.
"It will not be. Once we fully discover who the perpetrators are, I will attend to it personally." The Queen Consort said.
"How? May I asked Your Majesty?" Yaminah asked.
"As appropriate, Yammy." The Queen Consort replied.
"Your Majesty, I am persistent because this is not only The Regnant we are talking about, but my sister as well." Yaminah said.
"Who is also my wife, and the mother of our children." The Queen Consort said evenly.
"Let us not forget the Arasgains cherish Her Majesty just as much." Lillian added.
"Lillian, I was not attempting to imply anything." Yammy said.
"Glad to hear that, Yammy." Lillian responded.
'Your Majesty, I meant no disrespect. I am just deeply concerned for Her Majesty's safety that is all." Yammy said.
"I know Yammy." The Queen Consort answered. "Thank you all for your comments and counsel. I need a moment with Ariella and Regent Saladin."
"Yes, Your Majesty." They all replied in near unison.
"Your Majesty, please keep us updated on any and all changes." Masilo said.
"I will." The Queen Consort replied.
"Eshe and Nehanda are tending to the movement of the herds, but send their devotions." Masilo said.
"Please send them ours." The Queen Consort answered.
"Our love, Your Majesty." Yammy said.
"Our love." The Queen Consort answered and then Yammy dropped from the call.
"As Her Majesty is fond of saying, I leave you to it. Our love and devotions." Lillian said.
"Our love." The Queen Consort said and then watched her siblings departed the room leaving only Regent Saladin and Ariella.
"Your Majesty?" Regent Saladin prompted.
"All talk of war-footing must be contained. Whatever happens I will tend to it myself." The Queen Consort
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ariella replied.
"How is the Realm, truly?" The Queen Consort asked.
"Her Grand Ducal Serene Highness is correct. The Realm is deeply concerned, and awaiting word of Her Majesty's recovery. As time passes it only heightens the concern. I must inform you there are discussions that The Princess Royal should return to the Presidium immediately." Regent Saladin replied.
The Queen Consort nodded. "I was thinking that as well."
"Wait, What?" Bo said as she looked around the room at everyone.
"We have both The Regnant and next in line on the same plane where she was attacked. As far as the Realm is concerned you are just as much at risk and should return to the Presidium for safety and security purposes." Trick informed.
"Now this is where the old 'Bo' comes into play. I am not returning to the Presidium until we have the people who attacked The regnant are in hand." Bo replied.
"Your Royal Highness, I must advise strongly that you return. We have no clear view the perpetrators will stop at The Regnant. They may strike at you as well." Regent Saladin said.
"Your advice is noted, but my answer is still no. If and when the Regnant is stable enough to move her safely back to the Presidium we will move her, but I will not leave here until her attackers are found." Bo said. The Queen Consort smiled. Bo noticed Regent Saladin had glanced at The Queen Consort and looked over to her.
"Your Majesty?" Bo asked.
"You sounded just like Ari." The Queen Consort said. Bo smiled.
"In any event, we need to start making preparations for Bo's ascension to the Throne if Her Majesty does not pull through." The Queen Consort said gravely.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Regent Saladin nodded equally as graved.
"Your Majesty, she will pull through, won't she?" Ariella asked.
"All of our devotions are directed towards her recovery, Ariella." The Queen Consort replied. "I will speak with you both soon." The Queen Consort said as she ended the call, and sat back in her chair. The room was silent for a few long moments.
"Your Majesty, if I may, your sister-in-law, Yammy seems pretty intent. Do you and Yammy not get along?" Bo asked.
"I chalk Yammy's zeal for justice up to 'big sister' syndrome. If it were up to her Ari would have been transported back to the Presidium, and this plane eradicated already." The Queen Consort said.
"Bearnard doesn't sound too far off from Yammy." Bo said.
"Aside from his personal admiration for Ari, my brother believes fervently in the defense of the Throne. He has zero tolerance for any attack upon its authority." The Queen Consort replied as she stood up, and everyone else followed suit.
"Jock, we need a status on Dakari's return." The Queen Consort said as the doors opened, and Dakari entered the room with Drs. Lewis and Makar right behind him.
"Mother, I was informed you needed to see me right away?" Dakari queried.
Dr. Louis Padameshi and Dr. Emilia Prescotti were served their respective lunches at the grill and then found a table off in the corner. As they went people proceeded to stand to either bow or curtsey to Emilia. Emilia stopped mid-stride.
"Thank you, but in the priority interests of eating let us dispense with the formalities in the Cafeteria, shall we?" Emilia said to everyone who offered smiles in return as she and Louis made their way towards their table while everyone else resumed their seats and their conversations. Louis quickly put down his tray and pulled out Emilia's chair for her which caused him to notice Bas Yeager standing in the corner along with the Seneschal.
"You know, that is the first time I have really noticed him since you arrived." Louis said.
"Yes, one can become quite acclimatized to Bas Yeager and the Seneschal and not even know it." Emilia responded.
"He is quite a large fellow." Louis said as he took his seat. Emilia smiled.
'So he is the head of your Guard?" Louis asked as he took his seat.
"Yes. Each of us are assigned a Bas, which means 'Head' who lead our respective Regnant Guard contingents. Bas Yeager is the head of mine, and has been for over 200 years."
"How is the Regnant Guard different from the Knights of the Guard?" Louis asked.
"The Regnant Guard are essentially the Household Guard. They tend to our daily security needs. The Knights of the Guard are an elite order dedicated specifically to the Sovereign. My siblings and I are all members of the Order. So is Regent Saladin. So is The Regnant herself.. Not just anyone is selected, and not everyone graduates. Both Mummy and my grandfather, Nassor Prescotti, have statutes dedicated in honor of their combat accomplishments inside the Hall of Knights."
"Impressive." Louis replied as he looked at Emilia's plate. "Did you not like any of the meat selections?"
"Oh no, they were fine. I just do not eat meat." Emilia replied.
"Really?"
"I know. It is quite rare among the Fae, but I made the conscious choice some time ago. My siblings just shake their heads at me. They believe it is a conflict in my Fae nature, and they are right, but being an Acolyte of the Sanctuary I have learned to understand want versus need." Emilia replied.
"Acolyte?" Louis asked.
"Supporters of the Sanctuary if you will. My family are all Acolytes of the Sanctuary, it is Jock and Atia who are Adherents. Elena seems poised as well, but she has never really taken that next step." Emilia replied.
"Adherents?"
"People who dedicate their lives to the Sanctuary."
"Like a Monk or a Nun?" Louis said.
'Yes."
"So you have quite the number of siblings." Louis said. Emilia chuckled. "Do you all possess the same Fae abilities?"
"We all have our unique gifts, in more ways than just one. We are fortunate that we are a close family and adore one another. My siblings are exceptionally competent at what they do, and am personally impressed by them all, but we all believe Elena is truly gifted." Emilia replied.
"Quite the compliment."
"Well deserved. She, Antony, Ariella, and Rimma work in tandem together. They are entrusted with quite a lot." Emilia replied
"Speaking of your brother, Antony. He seems to be a man of…immense complexity, and a bit hard to read." Louis commented.
"He has many responsibilities." Emilia replied.
"Such as?"
"Each of us serve the Realm according to our greatest strengths. In addition to bearing the responsibility of being the eldest child of the Ruling Family, Antony is also the Rana of the Prescotti Dynasty on the Tetrarch. You are aware of the Tetrarch?"
"I have been told the Tetrarch serves like a privy council of Monarchs to The Regnant."
"Correct. In that capacity, he oversees the well-being of over 70 billion Fae divided amongst 10 Delegations."
"How many Delegations are there?" Louis asked.
"Between the Dynasties, in total there are 24 of them. When we assume control over this plane it will be 25."
"Wow! Quite the responsibility." Louis said.
"He is also the Pashan of the Combined Armies of the Fae of a 100 million strong. He commands all our land, air and sea forces. If we ever went to war Elena, as the Bashan of the Knights of the Guard would serve as his point of center in battle."
"Remind me never again whine about my job." Louis said. Emilia chuckled.
"So Louis, tell me about yourself?" Emilia asked.
"My family comes from the beautiful city of Srinagar located within the Kashmir Valley, on the banks of the Jhelum River. My mother parents met there during the Kushan dynasty. Both of them are teachers. About 300 years ago they moved to more populous centers of India, and then later moved to Europe, and then here within the County about 100 years ago."
"Are they still alive?" Emilia asked.
"Oh yes." Louis replied.
"Do you have a family?" Emilia asked.
"No. I have never been married nor have any children much to my mother's utter frustration." Louis replied.
"Why not?"
"Classic case of never meeting the right person, I guess. What about you?" Louis replied.
"Me as well. Plus, my parents complain that I am far too dedicated to my work to look up from it to notice other people." Emilia said.
"Mine as well." Louis replied.
"It is not as if I haven't met people compelling enough to take that next step, I am just one that believes that if you marry you should marry someone you simply not only love, but one you are passionate for, much like my parents are for one another. Something I think they tend to forget sometimes." Emilia said.
"Pressuring?"
"Not really, but they remind us periodically. I understand why. None of us are married or have any children, but I think I can safely say the reason why we aren't married is because there is no pressure from our parents."
"Were your parents' marriage arranged?" Louis asked.
"Oh goodness, no. They fell madly in love. Mother was an Attaché to my grandfather, Grand Ducal Padraig Arasgain when she and Mummy met before the War of the Five Ranas. There is a lovely story about how my parents became engaged. She took Mother on an evening camping trip on the Prescotti Homelands, stayed in a tent no bigger than for two people and proposed to Mother with a ring forged from the Nussio Bush Tree, a very sacred tree from our Homelands. I have always said if I ever get married I would like to celebrate my union exactly the same way." Emilia replied.
"It sounds like you admire your parents very much. They are to be commended for engendering such admiration."
"We know that we are extremely fortunate. So is the Realm."
"Oh?"
"Aside from a few minor engagements, there had not been a war under Mummy's reign since the War of Five Ranas."
"Impressive. She must not agree with conflict." Louis said.
"Conflict is not an issue for Mummy. She believes in resolving problems as efficiently as possible through…alternative means. But if open conflict has to be had she has no compunction about striking down the enemies of Realm, and she will do so ruthlessly." Emilia replied.
"She's a Monarch, I understand she…" Luis started.
"Sovereign." Emilia corrected.
"Apologies. I did not mean to offend." Louis said.
"You did not offend. I was clarifying terms. The term Monarch, while seemingly appropriate is a subservient term with regard to my Mummy's role and position as the anointed Queen, Regnant and Supreme Head over the entire Fae Realm."
"Again, my apologies." Louis said. Emilia nodded. "So tell me about your work? What projects are you involved in now?"
"Well, I am starting a new laboratory project that…" Emilia started then the Seneschal came up to the table.
"Your Serene Highness, His Serene Highness Dakari has returned." The Seneschal reported. Dr. Prescotti rose from her chair followed by Dr. Padameshi and both proceeded to exit the room as people rose from their tables in acknowledgment.
