Jupiter rushes into the control cabin, her hair disheveled from the recent battle, bright motes of blood trickling on her face and arms.
"My mother? Nino?"
"Safe, Your Majesty," Captain Tsing replies in a calming tone, "aboard that mostly illegal light cruiser," she adds with a hint of admonishment. "Glad to see you both are as well," she adds as Cain steps in behind Jupiter. Her eyebrows raise slightly when Kiza sprints across the small space to envelope Caine in a relieved hug. Kiza herself releases Caine quickly, abashed at her own emotional display. She has the demeanor of an Legionnaire to uphold, after all. "We have moved the male tersis recovered with you to the medical bay for assessment."
"He isn't hurt." Caine explains, coming up behind Jupiter. "Just passed out."
"Yes, he doesn't need any of that, stuff," Jupiter rushes to add. Captain Tsing cants her head slightly, comprehending the words though not understanding Jupiter's aversion to the life saving serum. "Where are they now? My mother and Nino?"
"Currently orbiting within the shield of Jupiter's magnetic field. We could return you, however I have a number of concerns to be addressed first." Though she has become fond of Caine and Jupiter, she must act with the authority of the Aegis, first and foremost. Jupiter hears the change in her tone, and faces her, waiting. "Do you have a crew ready to perform cleanup?"
"Cleanup?"
"The planetary damage was not extensive, however there are strict regulations regarding tersies access to Orous technology. That must be removed immediately. And there is the matter of a blanking operation."
"I can't," Jupiter stutters, "I can't think about that right now."
"You have to," Caine leans down and speaks softly in her ear. She hears her mother's words, 'they're not ready,' and she knows this is true. With Caine beside her, she takes a deep steadying breath.
"I guess, I guess the technology is the most important, right?" Captain Tsing considers a moment, then nods.
"The Aegis can send a retrieval crew at your request," she offers. Jupiter smiles and relaxes with relief.
"Yes, Ok!"
"Good. We will determine the expense to be placed against your Abrasax account later." Jupiter's smile wavers into a weak grimace.
"Ok. Later works for me. But forget the blanking." Captain Tsing raises her brows. "If there really isn't any damage, then they'll just explain it away. Humans are good at that." The Captain nods once her assent, and continues.
"Next, the matter of your unregistered property," Jupiter's brows wrinkle with confusion, "specifically the male currently in our medical bay."
"Property? Vladie?" Jupiter considers with a rueful grin at his reaction when she tells him that. Then, the full import hit her hard. "And my mother?"
"By Orous law, they are merely tersies, your subjects, and as Queen of Earth, your property."
"Illegal aliens, even here," she mutters, hurt and confused. "That's just not fair. My mother spent her whole life in hiding. I won't make her live through that again."
"We can get them registered," Caine offers.
"As my subjects? My property?"
"Either that, or return them to the planet, immediately." Jupiter considers that option.
"Will they be safe?" Captain Tsing hesitates.
"You can't promise that," Kiza says darkly. "Whoever is after Jupiter has already used my father to try and get to her."
"I know," Captain Tsing agrees with an aggrieved sigh. "We can't predict what other ploys this hidden enemy will attempt."
"Your family will be safe with Stinger," Caine says. Kiza nods with vigorous agreement.
"Ok. I don't like it, but OK."
"We can fill out any registration forms from here. However, there are other matters which must be address on Orous. Your charges to be filed against Titus Abrasax,"
"I have to file charges?" Jupiter interrupts.
"Formally, yes. And," but Jupiter interrupts again.
"But he tried to kill me. Isn't that enough?"
"The Aegis can address those specific charges," Gemma explains, "however if you intend on issuing complaint regarding his treatment of you for any and all monetary reparations, only you can file those."
"And," Captain Tsing begins again.
"What good will that do?" And Jupiter's face clouds with a variety of emotions. She hates Titus as she never knew she could hate anyone. Yet, there was something else, something he had revealed, like peeking behind a curtain at a much bigger picture she couldn't yet see.
"And," Captain Tsing barked this time, "the charges which have been filed against you." Jupiter stops, her mouth slightly open. Caine frowns and places a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Charges?" he asks protectively closer to Jupiter, but then his eyes clear with comprehension. "The Abrasax light cruiser. We did rather steal it."
"That, but also the damages incurred to structures during the fire fight. There are strict regulations about skirmishes taking place within Orous space." Jupiter looks somewhat abashed, then lifts her chin with defiance.
"We were just defending ourselves."
"I have no doubt, your Majesty," Captain Tsing nods her assent, "but that is for the courts to decide. And,"
"How long will all this take?" Jupiter is thinking of another mission, one thrust upon her, a trail of bread crumbs it seems she was destined to follow. The hints of her former genetic self, Seraphi Abrasax, whatever secrets she had uncovered that had changed her mind about everything she had ever taken for granted, set her against her own family, and, apparently, had ended her life.
"The initial filing must take place within three months," Gemma says, "however the proceedings can take decades." Jupiter grimaces and turns to Caine for his advice.
"A case can take a hundred years to finish. The courts are designed to favor Entitleds."
"And," Captain Tsing steps forward, "there is the matter of a case filed against you, personally, Jupiter."
"Against me? What for?"
"That is information to which I am not privy," she says, squaring her shoulders.
"Maybe by whoever is trying to kill her?" Kiza offers, turning to Jupiter. "Your Majesty, the Empress did have a lot to say about you upsetting her universe."
"A ruse?" Caine wonders aloud. "To get her out in the open?" Captain Tsing shrugs slightly, but her eyes dart to Caine, a warning, an entreaty.
"Perhaps. The message is keyed for you alone," she says, offering a sheave to Jupiter. Jupiter's hand shakes from trepidation and exhaustion even as she accepts the gleaming bit of glass and data. She glares at it for a moment, before activating the sheave with the glowing blue seal upon her wrist. While she reads, Captain Tsing motions Cain aside.
"I thought you should know," she speaks low, but with satisfaction, "we recovered one of the single fighters that attacked you." Caine instantly becomes alert. "The ships did not come from off the planet. Moreover, we traced their registration," he leans forward to catch her soft words, brows furrowing in a disturbed frown, "to Balem Abrasax."