State of Peace
Chapter 2: Pest Inspection
Knowing that Martha had little to do while the Doctor was away, Byzlusse asked her to accompany him to brief the king of Eloquia on a video screen.
"This is a very influential individual, even without his jurisdiction," said King Temebege.
"I consider him a part of my inner circle," Byzlusse confirmed.
"And everyone knows that," Temebege replied. "I am very concerned about how the rebels would use his political power. Where are his mother and brother?"
"Still on Hygert. They plan to remain here while the UTI ship is dispatched."
"They could be used as leverage. We must make the difficult decision to eliminate that possibility."
Martha and Byzlusse both frowned.
"How so?" Byzlusse asked.
"Isn't it obvious? Remove them publicly."
Byzlusse leaned forward onto the controls of the screen. "'Remove.' Even if I could 'remove' them the way you are implying, you are talking about the galactic director of citizenship and the founder and head of one of the galaxy's most esteemed institutions of education."
"Not to mention innocent lives," Martha added.
"I am trying to save lives and maintain stability on my two planets."
"I am already providing ample support to you through manpower and technology. You will dismiss the thought of threatening innocent humans and be content with my generosity."
"Lyle . . ." Temebege began.
"That's supreme galactic judge to you," Byzlusse interrupted.
"These are dangerous circumstances!" Temebege countered. "Everyone in Eloquia is aware of his power and his close friendship with you!"
"That means the emperor is a liability, too," Martha responded. "Why don't you suggest eliminating him?"
Byzlusse held a hand to his mouth to hide his smile.
"Who are you?" Temebege asked, finally annoyed of Martha.
"Someone I've chosen to consult. Is that a problem? I called you to alert you to the situation, and now I have," Byzlusse said. "If you need more security forces, I will help, but don't ever suggest such a disgusting action again. If the supreme galactic judge lands on Eloquian territory, he is to be considered a diplomatic guest and treated accordingly regardless of the circumstances. Otherwise, I will pull out all my support and transfer it to the rebels." Byzlusse disconnected the call without waiting for a response.
"That could have gone better," a voice said. "Thanks for your support."
"Martha, this is Robert, Lyle's older brother. Martha, Robert."
Robert and Martha shook each other's hands.
"I just came to check up on everything," Robert said. "Gailys said they traced a path to a missing ship."
"How large?" Byzlusse asked.
"It fits four occupants. Gailys said that they only found a few items that likely dropped from Lyle's wallet. Whoever took him was nice enough to let him have the rest of his wallet, it seems."
Martha and Byzlusse looked at each other.
"His communicator?" Byzlusse asked.
"No sign of it," Robert answered.
"I turned the tracking on," Martha informed Robert.
Byzlusse initiated a call on the video. "Telvam, trace the supreme galactic judge's communicator."
"It's currently near Holpeyin and moving towards the wormhole located nearby," Telvam replied after checking.
"Thank you."
"Why would they let Lyle keep his communicator?" Robert asked.
"Just be grateful that he has it. The wormhole near Holpeyin is the quickest route to Eloquia. This is enough confirmation for me."
"I'm going after him," Robert said.
"I'll ask the UTI to allocate a team to help you once you arrive," Byzlusse said. "Then I have to continue with my other responsibilities. I can't delegate everything."
"Can I come?" Martha asked Robert. "I mean, it could be a while before the Doctor comes back and I'm in the way here. Besides, Lyle was sort of my patient."
"Sure," Robert answered. "Why not?"
...
In Paris, the Doctor walked around City Hall with the sonic screwdriver in hand and Julien Perrin following. "Have you made any decisions for the elections?"
"We're not voting. My wife and I are moving to the United States soon."
"That explains the state of your home. There! The Immusson is in there."
The Doctor headed to the front door. "I have the means to assume a fake identity and you have an unborn child and plans to emigrate." The Doctor turned to Julien. "I should do this on my own."
Julien hesitated.
"Don't take the risk," the Doctor simply said.
Julien relented and nodded his head. "Good luck."
"Same to you."
The Doctor eventually entered the building using his psychic paper to pass himself off as a pest inspector, a lie that permitted him access into many rooms. While looking for the Immusson, he bumped into another man.
"Pardon me," the Doctor said.
"No, pardon me," the man replied, noticeably gazing at the Doctor.
"I'm . . . Jean Lefevre. I'm doing a basic check for pests," the Doctor said, trying to fend off against the man's staring.
"I . . . call myself . . . Dominic . . . Girard. I work . . . here."
The Doctor nodded with his eyebrows raised and pulled out his sonic screwdriver to scan Dominic. The Doctor looked around and then pushed Dominic into a nearby room.
"I'm the Doctor and I know you are a Immusson inhabiting that body. "
Dominic slowly grabbed the Doctor's right shoulder.
"You're weak. Something's wrong," the Doctor said. "You could barely talk through that body and you're not exerting much force against my shoulder. I can help you and not because of your pheromones; those are underdeveloped, too, I reckon. You need to understand that you've made a mistake. There's no conflict here to resolve."
"Don't . . . stop me."
The Immusson jumped out of Dominic's body and Dominic fell to the floor.
"Wait!" the Doctor cried. He was about to chase after the alien, but decided that Dominic needed to be checked. Soon, the Doctor was running through the halls, looking for the Immusson.
"Pardon me! Just looking for a pest!" the Doctor cried as he ran past various people. He suddenly stopped outside a room. "Chirac's office!" the Doctor concluded. The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to activate an alarm.
People began evacuating, but the Doctor was able to find Chirac and run to him. "Excuse me," the Doctor said, holding out his psychic paper. "Security. Mr. Blot asked me to escort the mayor to a secure location," the Doctor said to those around Chirac before pulling him away to a vacant room.
"There is no war! Just the opposite! For the first time, Europeans in nine countries are about to directly elect their parliamentary representatives!"
Chirac looked upward and closed his eyes. The Immusson then jumped out of him and dove into the ground. The Doctor groaned in frustration and helped Chirac to the floor.
"What are you doing?" someone called.
The Doctor turned and saw a security guard.
"Ah, well," the Doctor began. Instantly, he bolted out of the room through another door. The security guard chased the Doctor, who was able to get lost in the crowd but lost the remains of the egg. The Doctor continued running out of the Hôtel de Ville and to the Perrins' home.
...
Martha and Robert continued their trip towards the wormhole that would take them close to Eloquia.
"The Doctor told me that there's one star system in the galaxy that isn't controlled by the Kian Empire," Martha said. "Is that where Eloquia is?"
"Yeah. Eloquia governs two habitable planets there. Herro governs the other two."
"But Lyle and your mom can use 'galactic' in their titles?"
"The exception is too small. Besides, Herro and Eloquia really are close allies, Temebege's attitude notwithstanding. They don't even have defense forces, just internal police. And their second planets were gifts from Byzlusse."
Martha nodded in understanding. "I hope you don't mind me being here."
"No, I'm used to people being overprotective of Lyle. He's always been the golden boy."
"Jealous?"
"Of course not. I'm overprotective of him, too. I do remember it bugging me when we were kids, but then he and my dad Chris were in a car accident and Lyle had to watch him die and then repress the entire event. The guy served multiple tours in Afghanistan and that's how he died. Anyway, that was a very long time ago. And like I said, I'm used to it and I do it myself."
...
The Doctor updated Julien and Colette Perrin about Jacques Chirac while making sure that no one was looking for him anymore.
"I probably shouldn't say this, but you're leaving the continent anyway. Just don't tell anyone. Chirac won't get elected. I've seen the future. I know what the results of the election will be."
"You believe that's why the alien left Chirac?" Colette asked.
"I said it was telepathic. It must have some sense of the intentions of the electorate and changed its plans."
"And who does the electorate have in mind to elect?" Julien asked.
"The chancellor of Germany will be one of the victors, and he happens to be making a strong push in France."
"He has been actively campaigning in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, too," Colette added. "Are you expecting the alien to target Brandt?"
"Yes, and that's why I've come. You two are more familiar with this area at this time than I am. Are there any campaign offices nearby or do you recall adverts that might have that information? Even if Brandt isn't there, the campaign activities might attract the Immusson."
"There's a campaign office nearby."
"Where?"
The Doctor sprinted to the office, not paying attention to Julien trying to get him to stop.
"You don't understand . . ." Julien was saying.
The Doctor eventually reached the building and passed himself off as a messenger for Raymond Barre. The lie garnered some suspicion but still got the Doctor through. He looked for the Immusson and tracked it to a room with a few volunteers.
The Immusson repeatedly poked its head above ground and back down. Seeing no other alternative in response, the Doctor held out his sonic screwdriver and activated it when the Immusson was visible again. The Immusson started to squirm in place, allowing people to notice it and scream in panic.
"There is no conflict in this country for you to remedy," the Doctor said. "Listen to me! The only thing you can bring here now is fear and panic." The Doctor put the screwdriver away. "Do you understand that? Now, let me help you. I can take you back to Mussol."
The Immusson was suddenly shot. The Doctor turned around and saw a security guard.
"No!" the Doctor cried, running to the Immusson.
"What is that?" the guard asked.
"You don't get to shoot first and then ask," the Doctor yelled. He sighed. "It's something that would hurt the chancellor's campaign. Do you understand? Tell everyone that you saw nothing. Tell the volunteers here that if they want Brandt to get elected, they saw nothing."
The security guard quickly left.
...
In the Kian Galaxy, Martha and Robert arrived in Eloquia, near the capital, and found Lyle's ship.
"His communicator is here," Robert pointed out.
"We've lost him?" Martha asked.
"These seats . . . only one has an impression. Lyle might have been here alone."
Robert's own communicator started beeping. "It's Nine Strike, courtesy of Byzlusse, I'm assuming," Robert informed Martha. "Yes?"
"Robert," Nine Strike leader Coxteyin said. "I've tracked you and we are in orbit. You need to depart immediately."
"What's wrong?"
"Temebege has been murdered. Byzlusse has ordered non-security Kian personnel sent to help against the rebellion to leave temporarily until we are able to assess the repercussions."
"What about Lyle?" Robert asked.
"He is alive and seemingly fine. Kaisira saw him in the Eloquian capital alone. She tried to stop him, but she couldn't."
"Why not? She's one of the most powerful telepaths we know."
"She's uncertain. There was another force she could not control. She did, however, discover that Lyle is heading towards the rebels. The Maximates are preparing to look for him. You should leave this to them."
"Does she suspect that Lyle was involved in Temebege's death?" Robert asked.
"She doesn't know."
Robert looked at Martha. "Coxteyin, are you able to hone in on our location and teleport someone to your ship?"
"Yes. Do you need to leave yours?"
"I have someone with me. You can teleport her up. I'm going to the rebels to look for Lyle."
"I'll come with you," Martha quickly said.
Robert shook his head.
"You shouldn't do this alone. Also, I'm a medical student. What if Lyle needs help?"
"Fine," Robert soon said. He climbed back into his ship with Martha and disabled several controls.
"This is a bad idea," Coxteyin warned.
"I know. Don't worry about us and don't try to track us. I've taken those systems offline."
Robert cut transmission as his ship took off.
"Do you know where to go?"
Robert nodded. "If the rebels are involved, they'll send a supreme galactic judge to their base."
"And do you know what to do when we get there?"
Robert nodded hesitantly. "Yes," he finally said, sounding very uncertain.
...
Thanks for reading. The next and final chapter should be up in a couple days.