Chapter 15

Rosehip sighed softly, looking around the room she'd been assigned, it was relatively well furnished for that of a Pravda building, it was in the centre of the capital in the government district, a small TV was mounted on the wall broadcasting propaganda and light entertainment. In the corner of the room opposite her bed was a small fireplace with a large painting of Katyusha pointing in an heroic pose, as Nonna and Klara looked up at her.

Rosehip noticed a small book on a desk by the fireplace. She picked it up and studied it, it was small but quite thick and embossed on its cover was the title "Quotations from Noble Katyusha".

*KNOCK KNOCK*

The nocking made her jump and throw the book across the room.

"Uhhh, yes?" Rosehip called.

"May I enter?" A soft spoken voice called whispered.

"Of course..."

A tall woman entered the room, she had dark black hair and gave off an air of calmness.

"Your Nonna, right?" Rosehip asked softly.

"Da" the tall woman nodded, "Katyusha has asked me to help you get settled in. Now she's requested we return your personal belongings and allowed you to send a letter to your family, it will be read first of course, but she wants you to feel comfortable in your new country". Nonna pulled out a small rucksack and placed it on the bed.

Rosehip leaned over and began to empty its contents, a small diary, a family photo, even her laptop was in there.

"Now, don't think you can contact the Commonwealth on that" nonna pointed at the laptop, "Our engineers have restricted the things it can do and blocked the ability to communicate on it".

Rosehip gulped. "You... went through it?"

"Da, we saw a lot Rosehip..."

Rosehip gulped again, "Even..."

"Even the video of Darjeeling dancing to that anthem of yours... British Grenadiers was it?" Nonna softly chuckled. "I know you still have some attachment to those people, so i authorised it to not be deleted. Consider yourself to be lucky, you'd be in prison for something like that normally". Nonna turned to leave the room, "Oh, Katyusha has cordially invited you to dinner tonight, attendance is mandatory. Theres a dress in that wardrobe over there. I'll come to collect you at 7pm."

*Thunk*

Rosehip turned on the laptop, her screensaver - a photo of her and Darjeeling playing tennis, had crudely been edited to replace Darjeelings face with that of Katyusha. Sighing softly, she turned it off and walked to the wardrobe.

It was tall and made of solid Oak, inside was an emerald green dress.

Rosehip picked it up and felt it, it was a soft silk, on the right shoulder strap was a small enamel pin, in the shape of the Pravda protractor and ruler.

She slipped it on, and was amazed at how perfectly it fit, turning to her red commonwealth jacket, she pulled a small dove shaped pin and attached it just below the Pravda pin.

"I best let Darjeeling and Assam listen in" she thought.

*10 minutes later*

She followed Nonna into a massive hall, its walls covered in the finest amber and gold decor Rosehip had ever seen, Huge portraits of Katyusha hung and were lit by a small set of candle holders mounted between each portrait.

In the middle of the room was a large table covered in food.

Two women were sat talking at either end of it, one Rosehip could make out as Katyusha, and the other was a tall, white haired lady.

"Ahhh, Klara! This is the Gloriana girl I told you about" Katyusha stood and pointed.

The blonde haired lady turned and smiled at Rosehip, before speaking softly in Russian.

"She said welcome" Nonna whispered in Rosehips ear.

"Thank you" Rosehip smiled back.

"Now Rosehip, do take a seat" Katyusha pointed at an empty chair opposite her.

"I bet you must be frightened" Katyusha signalled for a waiter to come and fill Rosehips glass.

"I... am a little" Rosehip looked away.

Katyusha laughed loudly.

"Everyone gets frightened in the presence of the Great Katyusha!" she shouted.

"Why don't we eat?" Nonna cut through the awkward silence that followed.

"Yes, lets!" Katyusha said picking up a knife and fork to eat. "Ah, Rosehip?"

Rosehip looked up from her plate.

"I think I shall call you Rosy..." Katyusha mulled softly. "Well, Rosy, how are you liking my... hospitality?" Katyusha smirked and glared at Rosehip.

"I am uhh..." Rosehip desperately tried to remember Assams guidance. "Uhh.. most humbled by your... uhh generosity and kindness"

Katyusha cocked her head slightly, "Oh!" a small grin appeared, "I told you Nonna!".

Out of the corner of her eyes, Rosehip saw Nonna roll her eyes and carry on eating.

"Please...?" Rosehip quietly started to speak.

"Speak up Rosy!" Katyusha bellowed.

"Please can I have another drink?"

"Ahh, ALINA!"

A small woman came running to Katyushas side. Katyusha reached under the table and pulled out a small bag and passed it to her, "Please make our guest some".

The woman nodded and re-appeared with a small teacup and the bag, placing them in front of Rosehip.

On the package was a photograph of Katyusha holding a small bush, with the name "Katyusha blend" written above.

"It's our most popular brand of tea!" Katyusha chuckled, "Why don't you try some. I'm sure its much better than that dishwater they server in the commonwealth..." Katyusha smirked.

Rosehip picked up the small cup and had a sip, the most intense and foul taste hit her, but she managed to hide it.

"Wh- what's in it?" She looked at Katyusha.

"Uhh... good question... NONNA?"

Nonna looked up, then at Rosehip, "Oh, Chamomile, Lavender, and Ginger I believe" She looked back down and continued eating.

"I like your pin" Katyusha pointed at the small Dove on Rosehips shoulder.

"Oh! That?" Rosehip looked flustered "It was a gift from my mother, I never take it off"

Katyusha nodded slowly, before revealing a small bear shaped pin hidden under her lapel, "This was from my mother, we have a lot in common, you and I..."

Katyusha covered it back up.

"Now, it's getting late. Klara, please escort our guest to her quarters"

Klara stood up after wiping her mouth with some tissue and led Rosehip from the room.

Katyusha sighed, "Do you think she likes us?"

"I don't know, I still don't understand what your trying to do Katyusha" Nonna looked intensely at her.

"DIDN'T YOU LISTEN?" Katyusha threw a small piece of bread at Nonna, who rolled her eyes again as it bounced off her. "Katyusha is a kind and noble leader, and this is our chance!"

Nonna looked at her confused.

"If we can convince Rosehip, a high level commander in the Commonwealth, we're the better nation, maybe others will join her and us!" Katyusha beamed smugly. "Think for once Nonna!"

"I still dont think it's a good idea being so open to her..." Nonna said placing down her utensils and standing up. "I'm going to bed"

"Yeah... Yeah... whatever" Katyusha shooed her out of the room and turned to look out of the large window behind her.

*Rosehips room"

Rosehip lay in the bed looking at the ceiling, the room was lit by the small TV, recounting Pravdas numerous "Victories" against Gloriana, and discussing how they'd taken 0 casualties in the liberation of Oarai. The reporter mentioning that one of their Battery Fleet ships still being in repair after an "accident" during training.

"I hope they're missing me..." Rosehip thought as she began to cry softly. "I don't know what i've gotten into, the heart of the enemy..."

She rolled over and looked at the wall.

"It's odd... no one said Katyusha would be like this... maybe she's not as bad as I...?" She rolled over again.

"NO... Assam warned me this might happen. Remember Darjeeling!, Kay!, The Commonwealth!" She dried her eyes.

"Your doing this for them!"

Pulling out the photo of her family, she hugged it tightly, and drifted off to a restless sleep...