Chapter Six
The words rang in Remy's ears. "You're a spy!" Damnit! Why in God's name was Lilandra making first contact now? Did she forget that she'd sent Remy to the Southern Hemisphere? Or did she not really care that she could be handing him his death sentence with this first contact? Whatever the case was, Remy had to work out some kind of tactic to get out of this new accusation, and fast!
Remy chortled, "A spy, hein?"
"Well, it makes sense! You come, and then our Empire decides to make contact with your planet? That can't just be some kind of coincidence. Plus, you know of know our language, which is odd for someone whose people aren't even a part of our Empire!" Lai'Nal was disgusted. Why, in the name of Sharra, would he be playing dumb?"
"Dere be other reasons why a person would know about y' Empire," Remy retorted.
Lai'Nal spat out, "How?" She was incensed. Now he was being cryptic!
"Y' ever heard of de Starjammers?" It was grasping at straws, Remy knew that much, but it was worth a shot.
Nodding her head slightly in acquiescence, Lai'Nal narrowed her eyes slightly. "Go on…"
Okay, homme, she's taken the bait, but now can y' reel her in?
"Corsair, he be Terran, no? But he lives in your Empire, speaks de language, knows y' history, even t'ough m' world doesn't know 'bout yours."
"Okay, so what's your point?" Lai'Nal was getting impatient now. Her best friend was in danger! They both were! Except, Lai'Nal was of the opinion that Reia was a little more naïve than she, which, added to the fact that there was a spy/fugitive/outlaw living in Reia's apartment made Lai'Nal extremely uneasy.
"M'point is dat he's not a spy, no?" For a fleeting instant Remy had thought of claiming membership with the Starjammers, but that seemed like too far of a stretch.
"He's not a spy, I'll grant you that, but he's a FUGITIVE!"
Remy had to admit, her refute did cut with a certain truth. Perhaps it was a good thing that he hadn't claimed to be a part of the outlawed Starjammers, but his current tactic wasn't exactly working, either Time t' switch gears, homme.
But before Remy could start speaking, Reia piped up, "Okay, look, even if he is a spy, so what?" She could see her friend looking at her with an open jaw. Knowing her best friend, she had a good idea of what was running through her head at the moment. It was probably something like 'Are you insane? Listen to yourself, honestly Reia!' But Reia had a point that she was sure Lai'Nal had never though of.
"Like, really," Reia continued, "Who's he a spy for?" She looked at Remy, who remained silent.
Lai'Nal interjected, "He's not answering you, Reia, because he's probably working for the Government."
Remy sat back and put his cake on the table next to the sofa. It no longer held the same appeal and he really didn't feel like eating it right now. His mind was now running through all the possible outcomes, and how he'd need to play his hand in order to come out on top! But, right now, Reia was defending him. Why? He had no idea, but for the meantime, he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. So, Remy decided he would just enjoy the show until his involvement was needed. He, therefore, divided his attention between the fight that was going on between two best friends, and the newscast that had started up again after the commercial break.
The authority on Terrans was now trying to explain the complex structure of Earth's governments. It came as quite a shock to the interviewer that the Terrans were not unified under one government, yet capable of very primitive space technology. Not hearing anything he didn't already know, Remy shifted his attention more to what Lai'Nal and Reia were "discussing."
"So, what if he's working for the government! Big deal!"
"Honestly, Reia, I can't believe I'm hearing this from you! Like, where's your head, girl!"
It seemed to Remy that there was some sort of passion building in Reia, and he watched the two girls now with peaked interest. He forgot about the media screen entirely, for at the moment, Remy was more the expert on Earth than any high ranking Shi'ar.
Reia lowered her voice, so as not to have other tenants of the apartment complex hear the current argument brewing between her and her best friend. Plus, should anyone hear and decide to report it to on of Tor'kol's goon's, all three of them would be in some serious trouble.
Reia took at deep breath, and spoke as softly as she could, while still sounding serious. "Look, Lai, I know you're concerned for my safety, here. If he is a spy, then me letting him stay here is putting my neck on the line. I understand that, Lai, I really do.
"However, this might be a good thing, if you stop to think about it." Reia was speaking in almost a whisper now. "You know, as well as I do that, as much as he looks out for me, Tor'kol is corrupt. He sits in his plush, expensive chair in his richly decorated office, tucked away in his office tower that stands out like nobility among the peasants. He taxes us highly, because he can, and he never puts back into the community, he never gives back to the people!
"Look at us, Lai, we're the lucky one's in this hemisphere. We have enough food to eat, we have a good shelter that doesn't fill with water every time it rains, or isn't overcrowded with people that outnumber what the house can hold! We hold good jobs, honest ones! We're able to go to our studies; we have enough to not be wearing rags. Compared to 90 of the population of the Southern Hemisphere, we're rich, Lai! But we're sitting on the poverty line when it comes to the rest of the Empire. And why? Because Tor'kol and all the other gang leaders who hold some power are greedy. They take, and take, and what have we got to show for it?"
Lai'Nal stared wide-eyed at her friend. It was hard to believe Reia was saying this so passionately. But in reality, Lai'Nal had felt this way for a long time, she'd just never voiced it for fear of being overheard. Maybe Reia wasn't so naïve after all.
Reia paused to take a breath, and then she started again. "And the Majestrix is totally aware that we're in this predicament! Think of the shame; the Empire's Throne World has the most poverty out of any planet that it governs! And it's not like she hasn't tried to change it!
"The north sends in provisions, and the gangs intercept it. They never reach the public! We get medical teams and supplies sent over the border, and what does Tor'kol do? He keeps them for himself, if he doesn't kill them first. Sharra forbid we ever get sick…oh…wait…we do…and unless we have the money to pay for it, we suffer. And, Lai, you know as well as I do that it happens a lot!
"And when the Government sends any kind of authority down to try and work things out, Tor'Kol makes sure of their death!
"So, now, you're going to get all upset because the Majestrix is turning to espionage? Can you really blame her?"
Lai'Nal was silent for a moment as she considered Reia's words. Should anyone have overheard them, she knew their lives could be in the gravest of dangers. But, on the other hand, if Reia was right, this could mean hope. The rest of the Empire experienced wealth that the residents of Bara Nocta could only dream of. Perhaps the reign of terror would end. But could one man bring down an entire hemisphere? Lai'Nal studied the alien in front of her. He looked a little pale, and he certainly had reason to be. If she could figure him out, certainly Tor'kol would not be so blind. Looking at the Terran, Lai'Nal had the distinct impression that he had similar thoughts running through his head.
Instead of jumping up to agree with Reia's words, Remy was dumbfounded. And thankful! For the moment, he was quite content to listen to the two women to reason his presence with each other. However, there was a large part of his gut telling him to tell the truth. Remy had learned long ago that his gut had an annoying habit of being right. Taking a deep breath and standing up, Remy stared Reia in the eyes then Lai'Nal.
"Y' both are right." He said the words as calmly and neutrally as he could manage. Remy held his breath; he wasn't sure of the reaction he'd get from either of them.