He had just begun dressing when a banging from the front room sent adrenaline up his spine, interrupting his morning routine. Dunban rushed out of the washroom and to the door, dressed only in his sweatpants. When he pulled it open, he saw Fiora, anger and confusion mixed on her face. "What is this?" She asked, thrusting a pamphlet into his face.
Taking it, he began to read the front page. The headline screamed: RE-VOTE IN PROGRESS. SABOTAGE? NEGLIGENCE? In the light, he could see faint lettering on the other side. He flipped it over, and another headline demanded his attention: HOMS KILL HIGH ENTIA. WILL THE EMPRESS GET JUSTICE? OR WILL SHE IGNORE THE TRUTH?
What the hell is this?
As he read further, the pamphlet detailed the incident between the Colony 3 refugees and the Homs Entia of Colony 9. It mentioned the the Colony 3 refugees mysteriously arriving at Colony 9, and a lack of security check conducted from the Colony 9 government. Dunban knew that wasn't true but kept reading. In graphic detail, the article described intense violence unleashed on innocent High Entia citizens by the Colony 3 survivors. He knew it took liberties, detailing atrocities that had not happened, but he continued onward. Then the author speculated as to whether this entire scenario was all a hoax from the Homs. If there were any Colony 3 survivors to begin with or if the Colony 9 government was lying to the High Entia to cover up unwarranted aggression by Homs. Finally, the author questioned if the Empress would demand justice and cut off ties from the Homs, or if she would ignore the blatant hate crimes against their people in the interest of "diplomacy".
Flipping over the pamphlet, the essay regarding the re-vote was no less scathing. This time, the article comprised of conspiracy theories against the Empress and her cabinet with regards to holding a re-vote. It hypothesized that her administration was negligent and careless, hence the reschedule of the re-election. Additionally, it accused Melia of delaying the election in order to hold onto as much power as possible. The language was ruthless, cutting, and overall spiteful.
There was no doubt in Dunban's mind that this had to be the work of the saboteur. He could feel himself getting hot with rage.
"Where is Melia?" Had she read this yet? He hoped not.
"I tried to find her but she's already in a meeting." Fiora shrugged.
Dunban cursed under his breath and then looked back at his younger sister, remembering the note from the night before. Lightly grabbing her wrist, he pulled her inside his suite and closed the door.
"What's wrong?"
Without a word, he went over to the dresser, picked up the note and handed it to her. She read it, and her eyes widened.
"What is this?"
"I found it under my door last night."
"Do you have any idea who sent it?"
"No. But I believe it is the same person that's sabotaging Melia. I want you to go home Fiora. It's not safe."
"You can't seriously think that line is going to work on me."
"Your life could be in danger."
"Did you forget about how we fought Zanza? Together? I can take care of myself, Dunban."
"Fiora–"
"We're not going to argue about this. I'm not going anywhere." Fiora interrupted him with a death glare.
Dunban sighed and she crossed her arms defiantly. There was no way he would convince her otherwise.
"Why don't you go home? Whoever sent it to you thinks you're the threat." Fiora glowered and then stopped, pondering, "But a threat to what?"
"If this is the person trying to sabotage Melia, he or she thinks I can influence Melia. Which, after our conversation last night, I sorely doubt is the case."
Fiora gasped and pulled him to the sofa, forcing him to sit. "You talked to her? Last night? What happened?"
He couldn't help but smile at her exuberance. "I apologized. That was all."
"And?"
"And that was it, Fiora." He warned. Reliving the disappointment of the previous evening was not on his list of things to do. He wasn't going to try and change Melia's mind, but it didn't change the way he felt. He still wanted to be there for her. Strictly as a friend.
Or so he told himself.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Her eyes conveyed sympathy.
Instead, he rose from his seat and said, "You go with Shulk. I need to talk to Melia."
"Then you need to get dressed." His sister pointed at his naked chest.
Fiora: always the one to keep him in line.
"I asked you to come to my suite last night and yet neither of you were around to do so. Where were you? What was so important that you would not answer a direct order from your Empress?" Melia demanded, eyes narrowed as she looked across her desk at Shalen and Jarrack. Neither said anything. Jarrack bowed his head while Shalen returned her gaze with an expression of shame. "I want to know exactly what happened yesterday."
And whether or not they were the ones sabotaging her.
"One minute the box was there on the table. The next it wasn't." Jarrack murmured, his face still downcast.
"So it was stolen."
"Erm...yes." That response was not convincing.
"You didn't see someone pick up the box?" Melia asked skeptically.
"No."
Frustration started to bubble up in her body. "Are you sure? It's a pretty large box." The sarcasm was thick on her tongue. She knew how large and heavy the boxes were. She had James and Elrich carry the remaining three onto the shuttle last night so she could take the votes to Prison Island and destroy them. The Empress leaned over the desk and clasped her hands. "I think there is something missing to the story. And I would like to know what it is. Now."
"We lost it." Shalen blurted, breaking her silence. Jarrack's head snapped up and he glared at the Homs Entia woman.
"How?" Melia asked flatly.
"We were heading back to the Great Hall. We were arguing and forgot about the lock box. When we realized and went back to get it, it was gone."
Utter negligence. If this is the truth. Frustration morphed into anger. How could they be so careless?
"And what was so important that you needed to argue about and forget the votes?"
This time, Jarrack answered. "It's personal."
Part of her wanted to scream, but she slammed it down in equal anger. Instead, she set her mouth into a grim line, stood, and said, "I would like you to reassess your response. Your personal matter cost us an election. XXX."
The moment of truth. Would he confess to sabotage? Her heart thudded in her chest as she awaited the answer.
He was silent for a moment and then reluctantly confessed: "I'm in love with someone that Shalen doesn't approve of."
The Empress was shocked. Dumbfounded. This was a matter of love? It was almost unbelievable. Clearing her throat and folding her hands in front of her, Melia questioned, "And why is this so terrible?"
"Because she's already in a relationship." He looked embarrassed and defeated.
"Shalen, why is this any business of yours?"
"Because..." the Homs Entia trailed off, turning a shade of deep red.
"Because she's in love with me." Jarrack sighed.
This was not about sabotage. This was a love triangle gone wrong. Oh dear. Melia did not want to be in the middle of this any more, and was regretting forcing the subject at all, but Jarrack continued to talk.
"She doesn't approve of me going to the Machina Village and confessing my feelings to Bozatrox."
That must be the woman he's in love with. She thought curiously and then stopped, horrified at herself. Do not get yourself caught up in this.
"You need to resolve this now. This issue has affected your work for too long." Melia ordered.
"That's easy. I quit." Jarrack said as he stood.
"What?"
"I don't want anything to do with her anymore." He said, gesturing to Shalen. "I'll be at the ether plant." Without another glance, he stormed out of the room.
"I'm so sorry," Shalen whispered covering her face with her hands. Tears dotted her eyes.
Melia slumped down into her chair and put her head in her hands feeling a migraine coming on. On the bright side, neither Jarrack nor Shalen was the saboteur. Her instincts had been correct. However, on the other side, the Soothsayer had written a nasty set of essays this morning (she was sure everyone was talking about them and public opinion of her was steadily decreasing), and now she was down one cabinet member. Today was not a good day.
It was mid-afternoon when Melia arrived at Avalia's suite in the villa after a planning session with Miriall and Camar for the re-vote. For more than a moment, the Empress stood outside the door, gathering the courage to go in. Her stomach turned in knots. The last thing she wanted to do was ask a victim to relive a traumatizing experience. But she didn't have a choice. Melia couldn't speak to Mayor Laden until she knew exactly what happened.
Taking a deep breath, the High Entia woman knocked and poked her head into the room, seeing Avalia sitting on the sill by the window, looking down on the city. "Avalia? May I come in?"
"Of course, Empress." The woman turned to her and gestured for her to join her on the window sill.
Melia walked over and sat down. The door closed, and she could hear the faint shuffling of James and Elrich positioning themselves on either side of the door. "How are you getting on?"
"I'm alright as can be, I suppose. Miriall has made sure I'm want for nothing."
"I'm glad to hear that." Silence fell over the conversation. She didn't know where to begin. How to begin. Melia had no desire to inflict unnecessary pain on this woman. Was there a way to discuss the incident without doing so?
"Empress, it's alright. I knew we'd have to talk about this sooner than later." Avalia gave her a small, sad smile.
Melia nodded, feeling her heart race. She swallowed and said, "I know this is not an easy subject for you, but I need to ask you a few questions regarding the incident with the Colony 3 survivors."
Avalia nodded and the smile disappeared.
"When they first appeared, did you have any interactions with them?"
"No. There was no reason. Many of the Homs in Colony 9 were very excited. A few of them had lost friends, family, loved ones when the Colony 3 was destroyed, so there were a few happy reunions."
Unbidden memories popped up in the Empress' mind: the kiss between Senara and Dunban the most prominent of them. Embarrassment and pain gave her a friendly reminder they were still there. That the emotions had not been forgotten and continued to exist deep in her heart. But he has apologized.
No, she could not think on this more. Mentally, she shoved the thoughts away and drew her focus back to Avalia. "Were all the Homs eager to welcome these refugees?"
"To be honest, Empress, I don't know. I do know I heard a few conversations where some were suspicious. Why had they come back now instead of earlier? Things of that sort."
So there was some amount of distrust by the Homs of Colony 9.
Melia took a deep breath before continuing. Now the questions were only going to become more difficult to discuss. "They kidnapped you and the others from your homes in the middle of the night, correct?"
"Y-yes. We were sleeping and jerked awake. I tried to scream but they covered my mouth. They threatened to kill us right there if we didn't cooperate." Tears welled up in her eyes and she sniffed. "We thought...we thought if we went with them, they might spare our lives."
"And...when they took you to Tephra Cave, did they say what they were going to do?"
Avalia shook her head. "No. They just started to hurt us."
"They simply...tortured you for sport?"
Avalia nodded, tears trickling down her face. Melia felt her stomach clench and her throat constrict. Desperately, she wished to take Avalia's pain away, but there was no cure for crimes of hate.
"Can I get you some tea?"
Avalia nodded and sniffed. Melia crossed to the tea cart, and pulled it over to the window sill. After she had poured them each a cup and resumed her seat, they sat in silence for a few minutes. Melia waited, giving Avalia time to recollect herself. Finally, the Empress felt courageous enough to ask another question.
"What did they say to you? In the cave?"
"Nothing much...they just called us all sorts of terrible things. Like abominations. Demons."
"Did they say anything about why they were doing this to you and the others?"
"...they were convinced we would turn into Telethia and murder everyone. We...we tried to tell them that we couldn't...but they wouldn't listen." Tears formed in her eyes and a few dropped down her cheeks.
Carefully, Melia inquired, "What were the names of the two High Entia with you?"
"Mikau and Talon." Avalia whispered. "Mikau was to be my...husband." Her voice cracked and she began to cry, covering her face with her handkerchief.
Melia closed her eyes, pained. Dear god. When will the violence stop? Hesitantly, she reached out and placed her hand over Avalia's. "I'm so sorry."
"Thank you, Empress." She sniffed and took Melia's hand, looking up at her with reddened eyes.
"Please, call me Melia. No formalities are needed here."
Avalia hiccuped and nodded.
"How many of the Colony 3 survivors took part in this? Was it all of them? Or just a few?"
"I...I think I remember a group of fifteen, twenty maybe. I was told that there were forty of them in total."
So not all of them. That doesn't mean they don't all feel similarly towards High Entia.
"Just one last question, Avalia, if you will bear with me." Avalia nodded and Melia continued, "If we were to find these people, what would you have me do?"
The High Entia woman sniffled and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and then looked at Melia, wearing an expression of guilt. "They took my husband from me. I know I should want to bring them to justice, but all I want is them dead."
"That is a completely understandable reaction. Many in your position would also wish for revenge. You should not feel guilty about that."
"I just cannot find it in myself to be the bigger person."
"If it brings you comfort, I felt the same way after my father was killed. I wanted to go after the person who did it and make him suffer."
"And did you get him?"
"No, he fell to his death. We had decided to let him go as a show of mercy."
"Yourself and Sir Dunban?" Avalia asked, curious.
Silently, the Empress nodded. Mumkhar had not only taken her father, but also Fiora. Or at least, that is what everyone had supposed at the time. Melia remembered a conversation she and Dunban had had on the Fallen Arm after Mumkhar had finally been defeated. Both had confessed to eternal scars left by Mumkhar's violence. However, Melia could see Dunban was deeply wounded, having placed his trust in the man, only to see it turn false.
The memory squeezed at her heart. Remembering the pain on his face made her want to go look for him.
But she couldn't. She shouldn't.
"Did it make you feel better? When he died?"
Avalia's questions broke through her reverie.
"...no. Because my father was still gone."
Avalia nodded, contemplating.
"I promise I will get justice for you and for our people. But as Empress I have many things to consider and I may not be able to create the perfect solution. But I want you to know that I empathize." Her eyes pierced straight into Avalia's, conveying the seriousness of her words.
Avalia smiled in responce. "I understand."
Placing her teacup on the cart, Melia rose from her seat and took Avalia's hands once more. "Thank you for answering my questions. I know it wasn't easy, but I deeply appreciate your doing so. You are a brave woman, Avalia. Please know, you will always have my ear."
"And thank you, Melia. You have been so kind to me."
As Melia exited, she wasn't sure what to demand in her conversation with Mayor Laden. From Avalia's story and Mayor Laden's account, it was clear that only a certain group of Homs was to blame. She couldn't exactly cut ties with the entire race (especially not when the High Entia economy would eventually require treaties for trade outside of the Eryth Sea). But she could not ignore the negligence of the Colony 9 government, nor the brutality wielded by their "guests". No, something needed to be done. Melia just wasn't quite sure what yet.
It was evening when Dunban returned to the villa, having been out and about all day. In the morning after his conversation with Fiora, he had gone directly to the cabinet chamber to intercept Melia after the meeting. Unfortunately, she had headed to her next meeting only seconds before his arrival. And Kiefer, who noticed Dunban was unoccupied, wrangled him into preparations for the re-vote the following day. Much of it involved setting up for the new format: the single voting station in the Great Hall. There were to be four one person voting booths, each monitored by a cabinet team member. A single lockbox would house all of the votes, cutting down the changes of misplacing one of many. Kiefer needed to also make security preparations, to avoid another incident of thievery.
As he passed through the gardens and under the archway into the villa, he saw Melia walking towards him from the East wing, James and Elrich not far behind. Goosebumps popped up over his arms as he stopped, watching as she imminently approached. There was a somber look on her face, which quickly disappeared when she caught sight of him.
"Dunban. Good evening."
"Good evening to you as well, Melia. How are you?"
"Finishing preparations for the re-vote tomorrow. I want to make sure there will be no errors this time around."
It seemed like a perfectly normal conversation on the surface, filled with small talk to avoid potential awkward subjects. But it felt much different. The tension floated between and around them, binding them together in their own space. He wanted to cross to her and take her hands in his own. He wanted to ask her again how she was, and hope she would answer truthfully. But she wouldn't. She had closed herself off from him.
The pause between them lingered too long and James cleared his throat. "Empress."
"Right." She straightened her back and clasped her hands in front of her. "If you will excuse me, I am headed towards the upper nursery."
"May I accompany you?"
"...of course." She turned and started out of the villa, back into the garden.
Dunban fell into step beside her and said casually, "I saw those notes from the Soothsayer Kavar this morning."
He watched as her jaw tightened. "Yes. It is unfortunate that those are circulating."
"How long?"
"Five days."
That was after she left Colony 9.
"Do you have any leads on who it is?"
"Not at the moment. But I have someone looking into it."
"Tyrea?" He guessed, his voice just above a whisper.
She didn't answer at first, keeping her eyes in front of her, But after a moment, she nodded. "How did you know?"
"I ran into her the other evening on my walk. I wasn't sure whether to believe her or not when she said she was working for you."
As they reached the outer edge of the garden, a teleporter at the end of the row glowed a soft green in the evening light. Melia turned and gestured to him. "Here we are."
"Ladies first."
An eyebrow shot up but she turned and disappeared into the teleporter. He followed her, feeling the rush of wind circling around his body as he disappeared from the garden and was transported to a small area. It was half the size of his suite, but filled wall to wall with flora. As Dunban stepped off the teleporter, he looked around, amazed by the vast array of plants and flowers that grew in the planters. Many of the flowers dazzled under the blue-tinted light, as if aware they were being watched. The smell in the air was sweet and aromatic, but no overpowering. There was something innately serene about the space, and it made Dunban want to ask Melia about it.
And then it all went dark.
"Melia?" He called out. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." He could hear her footfalls as she ambled over to him. As his eyes began to adjust to the dark, he could see the outline of her body, just a few inches from his. "Perhaps the power for the lights has drained. Let's go down and see." She walked over to the teleporter, but there was no soft green light emanating from it. It was completely swallowed in the darkness. "Oh no..." The Empress stepped onto the teleporter, but there was no recognition. No movement.
It was completely dead.
"It looks like we're stuck here until someone turns on the power." Dunban said.
In the darkness, he could see her nod as she stepped off the offline teleporter. He watched her as she moved to the other side of the room, and stood against the glass of the window. If he wanted an opportunity to speak with her uninterrupted, now was the time. Because they were stuck in this room together for who knows how long.