"Good fighters have contingency plans. Great fighters don't need them." - Plan C
The trip back to the Vestian Outpost was tense. Petra's wounded pride was on full display. No one dared talk about what had happened back in the throne room - Meren least of all. But that didn't change the reality of what had transpired.
Petra had been shown up in front of the Queen by a simple human. Her suggestion of killing the Spider had been idiotic. The Awoken needed him, and Meren had been all too happy to point out the glaring flaw in Petra's plan.
And now Meren saw no need to apologise. Let Petra sulk. Meren had bigger things to worry about. She would be the one who would have to bear the brunt of the Spider's wrath. No matter how generous the Queen's offer, he wasn't going to be happy when he found out the Awoken had been keeping tabs on him.
As soon as the ship landed, Meren freed herself from the seat's safety constraints and marched down the landing ramp. She had no desire to linger here any longer than she had to. Variks, apparently just as eager to be away from Petra's bad mood, was right behind her.
Meren had too much on her mind: the Spider, the Queen, and, most importantly, sleep. Before her audience with Mara Sov, she had been tired, but now she was completely exhausted. Both physically and mentally. If Variks and Petra wanted to escort her back to her room, they were going to need to keep up.
Meren was already halfway across the hanger, Variks at her heels, when Petra's voice rang out. "Variks! Where do you think you're going?"
Meren paused and Variks stopped alongside her.
"Taking Meren back," he croaked in that ridiculous accent he reserved for the Awoken, "Might get lost."
"She's not going to get lost," Petra fumed.
"Not so sure." Something glinted in his eyes. "Meren and Variks are simple, yess? Easily lost."
The Queen's words seemed to have hit a nerve with him too. Meren carefully hid her mirth.
But Petra didn't find it funny in the least. Her mouth was set in a grim line as she stared the Eliksni down. Variks held her gaze, unflinching.
"Careful not to speak too freely," Petra warned. "Those words could be mistaken for insolence."
Variks rumbled softly at her words, defiant. But the display was lost on Petra.
"Go ahead. See Professor Hale back to her room. But don't be long." Petra turned and disappeared back into the ship.
Variks looked to Meren, amusement in his eyes. "Come along. Variks knows the way."
Meren couldn't keep the smirk off her face any longer. He sounded ridiculous, and they both knew it.
It would have been no trouble for her to find her way back alone - she had come this way dozens of times before. Yet Variks insisted on accompanying her through the corridors of the residence sector. Meren was glad for his company. After all that had transpired today, his familiar presence at her side felt reassuring.
They walked together in silence. There was so much that Meren wanted to say, to ask. How did the Queen know so much? What should she say to the Spider? Variks would have answers for her. But this wasn't the place. Someone could easily overhear them in these public corridors.
When they finally reached her apartment she entered the security code at the door. She and Variks could talk later. Petra was waiting for him, after all. And Meren sorely needed some sleep.
When the door opened, Meren stepped inside and turned to say goodnight to Variks. But he didn't stay put. Variks pushed right past her into the room. Placing his hand on the inner access panel, he locked the door behind them.
Finding herself trapped in her bedroom with him, Meren's eyes widened. "What are you doing?" She hissed under her breath.
Variks didn't answer as he looked around her apartment, his eyes scanning from the desk to her bed. He moved to the middle of the room, leaving Meren some space near the door. The room was already cramped enough as it was, and having an Eliksni in here only made it seem that much smaller.
Meren crossed her arms as she watched Variks survey her room. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it's bad manners to show yourself in uninvited."
Variks shot her a look before touching a claw to his mask. "Stay your tongue," he advised sharply in his own language, "If you cannot manage, speak in Eliksni."
Meren blinked, caught off guard by Variks' wariness. It wasn't like anyone was likely to overhear them in here - speaking in Eliksni seemed unnecessary. On top of that, Meren wasn't eager to put her linguistic skills on display. He already knew she couldn't speak well. She had told him as much when they first met.
The Eliksni set his staff against the wall and began pawing through things on her desk. Holding up a stylus, he examined it with narrowed eyes. After a second, he let it fall from his claws, disinterested. Variks flipped her datapad over and growled before reaching next for a book.
He slowly turned the text over in his hands, opening the front cover. "Nothing to say? Hard to believe. Coming from you."
That did it. Meren clenched her teeth for a moment before repeating her earlier sentiment. "You have terrible manners."
Variks chuckled and set the book down. He replied with a purr, "My apologies."
"Why are you here, Variks?" Meren had no patience for the scribe's games. He wasn't going to dig through all her things without an explanation.
"I wish to talk," he said simply, moving from the desk to the nightstand.
Meren watched him pull the drawer open, running his claws along the seams in the construction.
"Can it wait?" she grated out.
"No." Variks had moved on from examining the nightstand and stood before her wardrobe.
He better have a good explanation for all of this.
His pried the doors open. The Eliksni was being incredibly nosey. Sticking his head into the closet, he craned his neck to look up.
Meren was about to admonish him again. But as his eyes darted around her carefully-hung clothing, she realized that he wasn't simply being nosey - he was looking for something.
Variks reached up and yanked something off the wardrobe's wall. "Here it is."
In his hand he held a small silver object. Meren didn't know what it was. It looked like a rivet of some kind - part of the closet's construction. But the look of anger in Variks' eyes told her otherwise.
Meren knew exactly what it was that he was holding, then. Of course the Awoken were listening, even here. Variks' mechanical claws clenched around the surveillance device, crushing it. Meren exhaled sharply.
"Now...we can talk." The Eliksni let the twisted piece of metal fall from his hand. "In your tongue. Or mine. Whichever you prefer."
Meren eyed him sullenly. "You know what I prefer."
Variks shrugged and reactivated his vocal synth. "You will not learn if you do not practice."
"You can't possibly be here for a grammar lesson…"
"No." He folded his hands.
"What, then?"
"We need to discuss this errand the Queen has given you."
Of course now he wanted to discuss it. He surely could have said something sooner.
Meren fumed. "You could have given me a heads-up."
"I did not know what the Queen wanted," Variks said defensively, "She does not tell me such things."
Meren tried hard not to roll her eyes. "You're clever, Variks. I'm sure you had some idea…"
"I had my suspicions. Yes." He admitted. "But no way to tell you - no time. I cannot speak so freely in front of Petra. Not like you."
Meren crossed her arms and prepared to be reprimanded for how she had conducted herself in front of the Queen.
Variks eyed her defensive posture. "But I am not here to scold you...I am here to advise you."
"Advise me?" Meren furrowed her brow and met the Eliksni's eyes. "I've dealt with the Spider before. I think I can handle myself."
"No, Meren." Variks shook his head, his voice low. "You may be clever. But this is different. No small task - not some petty bargain for a Servitor. Giving Spider another book will not save you this time."
The Eliksni gave Meren a pointed look, and Meren felt herself shrink away from him. Her repeated bouts with the Spider had merely served to make her overconfident.
"The Queen has set you on an errand of diplomacy," he growled, "and you know nothing of Eliksni politics."
I know some things, Meren thought, but she dared not say it aloud.
"But I am offering to guide you. If you would choose to hear my counsel." He inclined his head respectfully.
Here he was offering Meren some of his wisdom - he was trying to help. And she had just stupidly tried to refuse.
"I spoke poorly," she admitted, her mouth dry. Meren was sure she had offended him.
Variks closed his outer eyes. "You did. But you recognize your indiscretion. Let us...pretend it did not happen."
Were it any other Eliksni, the exchange might have ended differently. But Variks was exceedingly patient with her. Meren looked at him, eyes closed respectfully, and saw him for what he was - a scribe of the House of Judgement.
Variks stood tall and proud before her, the last of the Eliksni peacekeepers. He had kept the secrets of Kells - held the Houses together over the centuries. Those eyes had seen so much. Variks was painfully clever. It was for good reason that he had managed to survive this long.
He gazed back at her, claws steepled. Variks probably thought Meren an idiot. She needed his guidance. All she could do to save face was incline her head in submission. Meren dared not look up until she heard a satisfied rumble from the scribe.
"Now," Variks seemed placated by her gesture, "I will be brief - not much time. What do you know of the Eliksni's oldest laws?"
There were a lot of them. Meren wasn't sure that Variks wanted an exhaustive list, but began anyway, "I know Ether is sacred. Theft is a crime punishable by death..."
She had barely gotten started before Variks stopped her. "What of the laws of diplomacy?"
This was where Meren's knowledge was sorely lacking. She had no idea. But as she met his glittering eyes, she knew she was about to find out.
Variks didn't berate her for her lack of understanding, he simply explained. "An envoy must be granted safe passage. This, to the Eliksni, is sacred."
The concept of diplomatic immunity seemed like something the entire system had long forgotten. Meren was surprised to hear Variks suggesting that anyone still abided by such rules - especially the Eliksni. "Does this law extend protection to humans?"
"Yes," Variks replied simply.
"What about the Hive?"
The Eliksni made a frustrated sound. "That is beside the point."
"Yes or no."
"Yess," he hissed. "You are leading this conversation astray."
Meren stopped her prodding and smiled in apology.
Variks eyed her. "Finished?"
She nodded.
The Eliksni huffed before continuing. "When you go to Spider, be very clear about your errand. Tell him - no uncertain terms. You come as an envoy of the Awoken."
Meren was dubious. "And the Spider will respect that?"
"Spider has little honor," Variks offered, "and has strayed from the old ways. But he has not forgotten. This is one law even he would not dare to break."
Meren gave Variks a skeptical look.
Variks tilted his head. "Do you know why?"
"If he did, I suppose he would...face judgement."
The Eliksni practically purred with glee. "Correct."
The scribe seemed especially excited by the topic, and Meren wanted to hear more about Eliksni judgement. But this wasn't the time for it.
The conversation had nearly veered off course again, but Variks guided it back. "When you tell Spider why you have come, he will not be pleased. But you already know this, yes?"
She did. Variks' words only served to confirm what Meren had already feared.
"I expect he will be quite furious. Let him shout and rage. Quite a temper, that one." the Eliksni scoffed. "Do not apologize - do not beg. You will do nothing. Hold your ground."
"I'm just supposed to stand there and take it?"
"Yess."
Meren's shoulders slumped at the idea of having to endure another one of the Spider's tongue lashings. She let her eyes fall to the floor.
Variks let out an agitated snarl. "Is that how you will stand before Spider? Hanging your head like a miserable Dreg?"
Meren's eyes snapped back up. Variks wasn't slouching - his shoulders were squared, eyes bright.
"No no no. Stand straight. You will behave like Eliksni - strong and proud and fierce. You will look death in the eye, unafraid."
"Death?!" Meren blurted. "You just said-"
"A metaphor - a figure of speech," Variks hissed. "Your English is worse than your Eliksni."
Meren glared at him, but she straightened her back and tried to mimic his posture.
Variks appraised her stance for a moment. "Atrocious."
She had no idea what she was doing wrong. Even the way she stood had managed to offend him. But Variks put his hands on her shoulders, pushing them back. Meren let him guide her. He put a single claw gently under her chin, tilting her head upward.
"Better," he purred. "Stand tall. Spider will not harm you. As I have said."
His claw was still at her chin. Meren's voice wavered as she spoke. "You're certain?"
"I am certain." Variks looked into her eyes. "But if you cannot stand nobly, perhaps you would prefer to kneel."
Meren flinched at the notion. For Eliksni, kneeling was an admission that one was in the presence of a higher power. And Meren would be damned before she would kneel to the Spider.
"No," she breathed.
"Good." Variks seemed to share her sentiment on the issue. He slowly withdrew his claw from her chin and bristled, "I do not want to hear that you have been on your knees before Spider."
Meren couldn't tell whether the Eliksni had intended for the double entendre or not. And she wasn't about to ask.
Time was not on his side, and Variks glanced at the door. "Spider will tire of his fury. When he does, present the Queen's offer. Let him consider. When he accepts, you will seal the agreement like an Eliksni. You know the way of armistice, yes? Ireliis?"
"I do," Meren replied confidently. She had seen the sweeping gesture once before - so long ago.
"Do not let Spider trick you. Do not shake his hand. This means nothing to us."
Meren nodded. "And if he refuses the Queen's offer?"
"He will not," Variks said flatly, "Like the Awoken, Spider has no other choice."
The Eliksni reached for his staff that he had left near the door. With his back turned, Meren let her posture ease. Variks was finally going to leave and she could get some sleep.
As soon as she relaxed, Variks' gaze snapped back to her. He growled, "You forget my words so quickly."
Meren hadn't forgotten, she had merely thought they were finished here. Apparently Variks had other expectations. She straightened herself back up. Like a good Eliksni.
Variks closed his eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh. "Will you follow my guidance?"
"I will." She tried to sound confident. Meren had no intentions of doing otherwise. Not after the lecture Variks had just given.
"Good." Something in his eyes changed. "I...do not wish to see you hurt, Meren."
The sentiment hung in the air of the tiny room. What was she supposed to say to that? Meren had suspected as much - when he had given her his gun - but she never expected that he'd admit it out loud.
She clasped her hands behind her back, feeling impossibly awkward. "I appreciate your guidance, Variks."
A slow blink crossed his eyes. The Eliksni clutched his staff tightly before looking to the door again. "I have been gone too long."
It was surprising that Petra hadn't come looking for him already. The Eliksni turned to go, but paused at the door. "One last thing…"
Meren stood rigid, prepared for him to say something even more uncomfortable.
Variks growled to himself, seemingly annoyed about whatever he was about to say. "When you go to Spider...you will wear that wretched cloak."
He really hates that thing. Meren smirked. "Goodnight, Variks."
The Eliksni touched the access pad, unlocking the door. He stopped for a moment before pawing the other panel to dim the room's lights. In the darkness, his eyes glowed so brightly. Meren could see amusement there - he was smiling.
"Sleep well, Meren," he purred. Variks stepped out through the door and was gone.
AN: Thanks to Keltoi for the edits!
Check out this story on AO3 for links to relevant lore after each chapter.
