Disclaimer: I own nothing except my three OCs, whose backgrounds are heavily influenced by Sylvia Engdahl's novel Enchantress from the Stars. Anything you recognize is from the Trinity Blood manga, by Kiyo Kyujyo, or the novels, by Sunao Yoshida.
Chapter 2
Zera was not in a good mood the following evening. She was a light sleeper, even when dead tired, and had been awoken in the middle of the day by the sound of murmuring voices and footsteps. She crept out of bed and cracked open her own door just in time to see Syeira exit Matxin's bedroom and walk to her own. Even though her thoughts were muddled by sleep this bothered Zera, and upon returning to her bed it took her some time to fall asleep again.
The next evening, having had time to process what she'd seen during the day, Zera came to two conclusions. One- her superiors were in a relationship and wanted it to be kept a secret. Two- for some reason, she wasn't just insanely jealous of Syeira for having such a good man, she hated the other woman. With a passion.
When she saw Syeira and Matxin at the light breakfast the inn provided she kept her silence, telling herself that their affairs were none of her business. Syeira and Matxin also ate in silence. There was palpable aura of sadness around them, and Zera had to commend their acting skills. Eventually, however, the silence and the sadness began to eat at her nerves. Why hadn't Syeira and Matxin told her about their relationship, and saved her from devastation when the small glimmer of hope in her heart was extinguished? To distract herself, she said, in the common language of the Republic, "You said when we reached the Empire we'd improvise. So, what do we do now?" It was Matxin who answered her, also speaking in their alien tongue. "This is going to be a long term mission. Tonight we'll explore the Terran side of the city and talk to its people. If we can gather enough information we may move to the Methuselah side tomorrow night. Personally, I'd like some more time to adjust to the twenty-four hour clock."
"Explore the city? What good will that do us? Let's just head to the Empress's palace and eliminate her. Then we can move onto finding the other nanomachines."
"And how do you propose we do that, trainee?" Syeira said. "Right now, the Empress is our only lead. We have to keep her alive. And not just because of that. Our job is to do the best for the people of this planet. If the ruler of this country was suddenly assassinated can you imagine the turmoil the country would be thrown into? Especially when the true culprit couldn't be found. By exploring the city we can learn more about the Empress-is she a tyrant or a good ruler? Does she have an heir, or is the government stable enough to go on without her?" Zera looked properly chastised at the end of Syeira's speech. "I understand," she said. "Good. And trainee?"
"Yes?"
"Don't use the word 'eliminate'. Say 'kill', because that's what we'll be doing. You have to remember, our targets are humans- Younglings we are sworn to protect. We are agents, not assassins. Now let us begin our assessment of the economy by seeing the merchant the innkeeper recommended."
"Good idea Syeira," said Matxin in Imperial. After that, the three agents made light conversation about the sights they passed on their way to the merchant's, acting just like normal tourists. On the way they passed a building that smelt of strongly of antiseptic and blood. "A hospital?" mused Matxin aloud. "No," said a man passing by. "That's a blood donation center."
"A what?"
"You're not from around here, are you?" Syeira was the one to answer his question. "We just came here from Albion," she said. "Could you explain what a blood donation center is?" The man nodded. "You see, when someone's not doing so well financially, or just needs a bit of cash, they can give blood. It's made into blood tablets for the Methuselah."
"So everyone wins. Terrans get money, and Methuselah get blood," Matxin said. "What a wonderful type of welfare. May I ask who devised it?"
"The empress, of course."
"Thank you for this information."
"You're welcome. Enjoy your stay!" The man wandered off, and Zera felt Syeira'a gaze upon her. She didn't need telepathy to know that the other woman was telling her, This is why we can't just kill the Empress, trainee. Oh, how she hated the way her senior agent could make a simple look so condescending. Then and there Zera resolved to do something useful for the team, to prove she wasn't just a burden.
The merchant's name was Mimal and judging from the prices of articles in the shop below his office, the economy was stable and most people were well off. He too mentioned that those who couldn't afford the basic necessities could always donate blood, but, thought Zera, we can't do that because of the nanomachines and bacilli in our alien blood. So when Mimal mentioned needing a new shop girl, Zera saw her chance and jumped on it. She would work for Mimal and earn money for the team instead of just playing tourist and exploring the city. Mimal told her to return the next day a few hours after dusk, and Matxin led the way out of the store. Syeira told Zera, "Work well, and we gain the reputation for being good and honest people." Zera replied "Yes, Agent D'Arva. What work will you be doing?" Matxin shot her a look, but Syeira carried on as if she hadn't heard.
The trio spent the rest of the night wandering Byzantium, learning the layout of the city. With his sharp red eyes, Matxin was the first to notice that they hadn't seen any signs of alcohol or tobacco use among the Terrans. At a shop, Zera stopped and commented on the lack of drugs. The Methuselah proprietor told her that substances harmful to Terrans that were common outside of the Empire, tobacco and alcohol especially, were banned by the Empress.
Walking back to Matxin and Syeira, Zera sent Substances harmful to Terrans are banned, by order of the Empress. Even though she is the mother of Methuselah, she looks after the Terrans as well. Matxin replied out loud, "You'd think that in the Empire of the Methuselah the Terrans would be considered secondary to the Methuselah, but clearly Augusta Vradica considers the Terrans to be true citizens of her Empire."
"Yes," added Syeira, "and we can't kill her."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything for the Terrans' benefit was decreed by the Empress. Most Methuselah still consider themselves superior to Terrans, and I suspect that it's only the Empress's laws that keep them from hurting them. If the Empress was removed from the equation, there would be chaos. We can't do that."
"Than how do we complete our mission to recover the nanomachines?"
"We don't."
After Syeira's declaration, the group spent a week in the Empire, planning their next move. Ideally, someone would stay behind to monitor the situation in the was the natural candidate, as she already had a job. On the other hand, she was also the trrainee, and Syeira and Matxin were uneasy leaving her behind. Zera scoffed at their worries, maintaining that she was perfectly capable of caring for herself, but clearly disliked the idea of being left behind alone. For those days, trying to talk to her was trying to talk to a walking contradiction. The third time Zera contradicted herself Syeira decided to have a private talk with her to see what was going on.
That morning, as Zera was preparing for bed, Syeira entered her room. The younger woman spun around, startled.
"Don't you know how to knock? Or are you above such things?"
"We need to talk, and I didn't think you'd agree if I asked."
"We just spent three hours going over how you're going to leave me alone here without any way to contact the Republic while you and Matxin play tourist over in Europe."
"Agents are often required to go without contact for years. This trip will take a week at the most, then Matxin will be free to return here if it's deemed necessary. "
"If necessary? And who decides that?"
"Trainee Zera Viduria, what are you trying to say?"
I despise you!
Why?
You know why! The first time we met you insulted me. You never saw fit to apologize, and since then you've been cold and formal. I've held down a job and obeyed your orders but never once have I received a kind word! In the street you laugh and act happy but I know it's just a mask! And Matxin does too! But he still hangs on to your every word and compliments you on your plans and
Are you in love with him? Is that why you hate me? Because you think I receive his attention? Answer me trainee!
Yes.
You little fool. Mat and I have never and will never be more than friends. As for my lack of compliments, I will show you the respect you've shown me. You have done good work, but nothing challenging. Agents die in the line of duty- working as a shop girl is nothing worth noting. I will compliment you if you can get us out of the dilemma we're in – find Empress Augusta Vradica! With those last thoughts, Syeira stalked from the room.
Matxin couldn't understand why, but the silence the next day between Syeira and Zera was oppressive. He knew his two comrades disliked each other, but never had the air between them been thick enough to cut with a knife. Usually it was filled with lighthearted chatter as they maintained the façade of friends exploring a new city. As they passed through the marketplace a young girl approached them. "Hello Zera!" she yelled. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Not, today, but thank you Seth." Syeira perked up upon hearing the Zera's reply. "Who is she?" Syeira asked Zera. "Oh, that's just Seth, the tea girl. Sometimes I buy a cup from her when I'm coming off work." Syeira gave a wicked grin and told the trainee, "Call her back. I'm in the mood for a cup of tea." Confused, Zera did so. As she was being served her tea, Syeira and Seth made conversation. "What a cute squirrel you have. May I pet him?"
"You can, but I won't promise that he won't bite."
"What's his name?'
"Abel."
"That's nice," said Syeira, at the same time sending to Zera Distract her. To confused to consider disobeying, Zera relayed to Seth a juicy piece of gossip she'd heard the other day. As they chatted, Syeira sent to Matxin Call me Lilith. Then she upended her full cup of tea on him. "Lilith!" he shrieked. Seth's suddenly pale face whipped around. "So sorry, Mat," said 'Lilith'. "Here's my cup Seth, perhaps I'd better not have any more tea."
"Right," replied Seth, still pale. "If you don't mind, I need to find more customers."
"That's alright. Go ahead," said Zera, confused by the Senior Agents' behavior. As Seth walked away, Syeira turned to Zera and smiled. "My compliments, Trainee Viduria. You've found Empress Augusta Vradica."