Carpathia IV: Episode 158 - Shades of Grey
Brig, NCCS Shadowdancer
Aire marched to the brig, still wearing the same uniform he had on when he got blown up. Not tattered, but with a share of rips and tears and a smattering of dirt. Normally, as he passed crew members in the cooridors, he was greeted cheefully by each. This time, however, they were respectful, but more standoffish. Or, rather, it was he who was standoffish, for he didn't feel much like presenting a welcoming aura this time.
With gritted teeth, and clutching a folding chair, Aire placed his free hand on the reader next to the door of the brig. After the computer accepted his handprint, he tapped a code into the keypad and the door slid open. Aire hoped he'd never have to use either of the two brigs on the ship, especially not this one, the smaller one for high-profile prisoners. At least, in this, there would be some privacy, for it would be only he, the the guard, Lamia, and, most importantly, Nyana.
Nyana did not react much when Aire walked in, only raising her head momentarily to see who it was. She seemed smaller, sitting on the side of her bed, hunched over with her hands on her lap. Lamia was in the adjacent cell, swordless, and sat upright with her arms folded across her chest. Aire put his chair in front of Nyana's cell and took a seat.
Aire: I thought you might want an update before we get started with anything else. Five dead in total, one of our crew and four of yours. Several injuries, but we'll have to see what the doctor says before I can say more.
Nyana didn't say anything at first and Aire remained silent, waiting to find out if she had any excuses.
Nyana: Any vashtari amongst the dead?
Aire felt as though his face might have twitched in the same way that Admiral Zhang's did during her first conversation with Nyana. By "vashtari" Nyana, of course, meant the elves.
Aire: The others don't matter to you?
Nyana looked up and shrugged, a look of genuine confusion.
Nyana: Why would they? The komodo. The demons. They're just tools, easily replaced, like that furry one who was with you today.
Aire now started to think he should have pulled the trigger when he had the gun to her head. Lamia, he knew, could hear her and he cast a quick glance in her direction. Her sour expression changed to something Aire thought he would describe as resignation. The next thing he said, though directed at Nyana, was as much for Lamia to hear.
Aire: The furry one is Teren, he's my security chief, and he's still in surgery thanks to one of your crew! Though Carpathia has many qualified individuals that I could choose for that position, there is only one Teren and he is under my command. I will move mountains to ensure his safety and the safety of anyone in my charge. That, however, is not the reason I'm here. I have two questions for you and I've spent the last couple of hours trying to figure out which one I want to ask first. Honestly, I still don't know.
Nyana: You want to know why I would give you my ship and I suspect that young vashtari who blew himself up was a Valro. You don't know a thing about the Valros, do you?
Aire: He whispered his name to me. Wyn Valro. I'm getting just a little tired about all this fuss over my name and you are going to tell me what it's all about.
Nyana: I will share what I know, but, fair warning, it's not much. Most of my information is rumor. Before I begin, you seem to know something of us already. You have already met Ksenva, haven't you?
Aire: She was our first encounter with your culture. We initiated friendly greetings and began first contact, but she was not a very willing partner. Eventually, she made the same demands of us that Kali did, to turn over all vashtari.
Nyana: Knowing Ksenva, I expect she engaged you in combat?
Aire: She did.
Nyana: And because you're here, I take it you destroyed her.
Aire: Long story, but in the end, she destroyed herself rather than allow us to take her prisoner. Now, let's get back to this Valro situation. What do you know?
Nyana gave a slight nod and sat up a little straighter on her bed.
Nyana: Some years ago, I learned of a secret organization comprised of a single family. The Valro clan. All male. I don't know what happens to any females who are born into the family. They're also all pale, like yourself. They serve the Grea...
Nyana paused with a look on her face like she had a sock stuffed in her mouth and couldn't get any words out.
Nyana: They serve... Empress Lazmaedia fanatically and she returns the favor in kind by granting them privileges far beyond what is usually afforded any light-skinned males.
Aire raised his hand and stroked his chin, saying something he thought was only in his head, but accidentally out loud, though in a whisper.
Aire: House slaves...
Nyana: What's that?
Aire paused momentarily, stopping his fingers in mid-chin stroke.
Aire: Ah, nothing. Just something from ancient human history. What about the one who blew himself up? You didn't get rid of him when you got rid of all of Kali's supporters? And why didn't you warn us about this?
Nyana slumped, returning to the original posture she had when he walked into the room.
Nyana: That's all I know for sure. The rest is rumor. From what I can tell... Empress Lazmaedia sometimes has undercover Valros as spies. I've never been able to confirm this myself, but this is evidence of that. I didn't know who he was any more than you did. I'm fairly certain that he didn't understand who you are either. If he had, he wouldn't have revealed himself to you and I expect he would have attempted sabotage both of our ships. Can you tell me of your interaction?
Recounting the conversation Aire had with Wyn did not take long, for the conversation did not take long either, only a few minutes between initial contact and the explosion.
Nyana: So he thought this was all part of an elaborate plan? I admit that I was confused too when you first stated your name openly. No Valro would ever do such a thing.
Aire: He was a bit upset by that. What confuses me is where he hid the explosives. We scanned everyone twice before boarding and Teren gave him an extra one before he spoke to me.
Nyana: Another rumor is that they're somehow able to turn their bodies into living bombs, undetectable by any scan.
Aire sighed, for if this were true, it would make the situation more complicated. He had no desire to start segregating people based on mere suspicion, but, fortunately, he had another sort of scan he could initiate, though he would have to speak with the scanner first. A Ryuu scan. Up to now, Ryuu had been checking for demigod abilities and a penchant for deception, the latter of which could be hidden even from Ryuu with enough training and it appeared that these Valros had plenty of training. Aire would have to ask if he could break through, so to speak, if he had more specific information to work with. He turned to the security guard posted in the brig.
Aire: Ensign, contact the bridge and have them send Ryuu down right away, along with two extra guards.
The guard nodded and immediately began contacting the bridge.
Aire: You remember that Ryuu scanned your mind when you came aboard. I would like for you to do that again, but this time share all you know about the Valros with him. He may be able to find out if there are more on the ship.
Nyana: I shall do so willingly and gladly. The Valros are the reason I gave you my ship.
Aire: On to the second question, then. Why did you do that?
Nyana: When Ksenva didn't return, Empress Lazmaedia declared her lost. That meant a position to fill at court and she gave it to my family. I know what that meant. Vashtari of my skin tone do not get offered a court position with a ship. She knows that I know about the Valros. I am sure of it. That's why she sent me on this mission to find Ksenva. She expects me to fail. I'm also sure that she has already killed my entire family back on the homeworld. I've been secretly looking for a way out of this since we started this journey and then you showed up.
Aire: If this was supposed to be a sort of suicide mission, why send Kali or Wyn?
Nyana: Empress Lazmaedia never liked Kali. She was just too belligerent. Fortunately, you were able to distract her long enough for me to take care of her. As for Wyn... I just don't know.
Aire stood, having learned enough for now and figured it would be best to let Ryuu fill in any blanks.
Aire: Time will tell, and so will Ryuu, how much of this is the truth. There are some things you should know, however. At this point, around twenty or so of your crew are also in the brig, mostly for starting fights because we refuse to give preferential treatment. I think it would be best to consider an announcement to your people to behave themselves.
Nyana: I will see what I can do.
Aire: Also, know this. I don't know what you think Lazmaedia is, but she is not a god and she is not immortal. We've encountered some like her before. My former Captain had a role in killing Wishmaster. Others are reasonably friendly.
Sassinesa: Like Sassinesa!
Aire: Right, like Sassiness...
Aire froze cold as a statue, not even sure that he heard what he thought. A quick turn to his left, however, confirmed that it was not his imagination.
Aire: Sassinesa?!
Sassinesa: Squirrel-o-gram!
Aire let out a grunt and rubbed his forehead.
Aire: Right, and some of them are annoying, like this one. You couldn't have called first?
Sassinesa: If I'd called, I wouldn't have been able to observe you behaving as you normally would. I've been watching you all on the squirrel-o-vision and when I learned that the Vashta were here again, I thought I'd have a peek.
Sassinessa grinned and swatted Aire in the arm.
Sassinesa: Anyway, annoying? Rude! I thought it was high time I meet your friend here. She certainly isn't the type that Lazzykins would favor, for sure, so her explanation kinda makes sense.
As if Aire wasn't busy enough, now he had Sassinesa to deal with. Before he could respond, however, the door to the brig opened and Ryuu trotted in, followed by the two extra security guards he requested.
Ryuu: Reporting as requested, Cap... Sassy!
Sassinesa: Good to see you again, Ryuu.
Nyana, watching silently since Sassinesa appeared with a consistent, confused wrinkle in her nose, finally spoke.
Nyana: You do run an unusual ship, Captain.
Aire: A ship of misfits, Madam, and I will protect them with every last bit of strength that I have. All of them. Before I leave you with Ryuu, I should mention that Admiral Zhang said that you would be having an asylum hearing in the future. I suggest that your result will hinge largely on how truthful you are and how open you are to a new perspective on life. Think about that.
Aire turned, placing his hand on Sassinesa's shoulder.
Aire: I suppose we should have a little chat about how much you've been eavesdropping.
Sassinesa: Not too much!
Before Aire could leave, another voice, one that had been silent the entire time, finally made itself known.
Lamia: Captain!
Aire turned back, expecting that Lamia might have some issue with his order to take her swords from her. She, however, did not seem in a combative mood at all, but rather she fidgeted nervously, rubbing her hands over her arms.
Aire: What can I do for you, Lamia?
Lamia: When we first met, you introduced me to one of your officers... a demon. I think his name was Baal?
Aire nodded.
Aire: Lieutenant Baal Morningstar, yes.
Lamia: I want to speak... Rather... Could you ask him if he would speak with me?
Aire: I think he might be willing. I will let him know of your request shortly.
Lamia nodded and returned to her bed to sit.
Lamia: Thank you, Captain.
With Sassinesa in tow, Aire strode to the brig door, on his way back to the bridge.
Sassinesa: Hold hands?
Aire: Don't push it.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
