In the weeks following the bombing at the casino, life in Capitol City slowed to a crawl. All places where people gathered in numbers, such as clubs, restaurants, and even the Institute itself, were closed while security officials swept the city in search of other planted explosives or clues about the culprit of the unprompted attack. All citizens seemed to agree that it was yet another in a long history of attacks by the Natural Born terrorist organization known as the Centauri. The lack of ability to work and the somber mood of the city left Arian in sour spirits. This was compounded by the fact that he hadn’t heard from Professor Brightmore since that night, which was strange given all of the personal details the man had shared about Arian’s mother and his hinting at some grand plan. With no other way to pass the time, Arian was content to lounge on his sofa in the atrium watching the nonstop 33-hour coverage of the bombing. He was unshaven and hadn’t showered in days as he lazed around his apartments with no reason to leave.
Staring at the holograms flashing over his glass table, he watched in a daze as a mildly attractive reporter recounted the latest events.
“This is Sophie Mayeaux for Capitol 11, giving you the latest on the Cardinal Street Tragedy. It seems our most recent reports indicate that Natural Born workers from outside the dome orchestrated the recent suicide attack that took five of our revered Consulates.”
“She is kind of hot in a strange way,” Arian thought to himself. “Athena! What do you think? Is this news chick hot?”
“Do you require something, Arian?” returned the automated voice of his qubit.
“Oh shut up.”
“Of course, Arian.”
Contemplating his half empty martini, he couldn’t decide whether it was worth it to lean forward and pick it up, as even this simple task required too much exertion on his part. Arian was bored, unmotivated, and unsure how he should spend the rest of his day. He turned his attention back to the news.
“The Parliament is again engaged in intense debates over the new controversial bill known as the Natural Born registry, which will require all workers from outside the dome to submit to a series of background checks and cross examinations in order to ensure all who work within the city can be known to be free of Centauri involvement. Those cleared would be allowed to work within the dome, provided they carry a card at all times containing their pertinent information, as well as have a tracking chip implanted in their wrist by which all movements can be monitored by Capitol City authorities. The author of the bill, Tiberius Septus, is scheduled to address the Parliament this afternoon.”
“Athena… I’m bored! Make something happen!”
“What would you like me to do, Arian? Would you like me to pull up your research on your tablet?”
“No. I don’t know… Order me some food or something.”
“Would you like your usual order Shiang Xi noodles from Le Venetian?”
“I don’t care. Sure. Make it extra spicy and have them send a bottle of Sagittarian wine. I’m thirsty and this martini is too far away.”
“Right away, Arian.” Athena’s voice disappeared, and she was likely already communicating with the computer system at Le Venetian.
Sagittarian wine wasn’t his typical order due to its exorbitant price tag. He had only tasted it once and that had been at the dinner with Kaiya. He was surprised how concerned he was with her lack of contact since the attack. He hardly knew her and his meeting with the Professor had given rise to doubts about their collective mission. Despite having only met her once, Arian was smitten with her. He felt conflicted, pulled in two directions by her and Ansley. Trying to ignore these unsettling thoughts, he turned his attention back to the holograms dancing before him. Fire and ash littered his atrium, along with rubble and sounds of terror. The news was, once again, reshowing the live footage taken in the wake of the bombing.
“How many times do I have to watch this? Play some damn Patolli highlights!” He knew that all Patolli matches had been cancelled, even in the other domed cities, in solemn solidarity with Capitol City.
“Athena, pull up the Patolli rankings.” His request was met with silence. She was still ordering the food. He needed to upgrade his qubit. The lack of multi-tasking ability was annoying, particularly when he was at the lab. He picked up the tablet next to him and accessed the rankings manually. There had been no change in the last few weeks, and since he pulled them up every day, he knew them top to bottom. Still, it made him feel good to see that Capitol City was in second place, behind only Pathos in the quest for the Four Roses Cup.
After a few moments, Athena responded. “Accessing the rankings.”
“Never mind,” Arian shouted irritably. “I’m watching the news.”
The images of fire and death were now absent, along with the mildly attractive reporter Sophie Mayeaux, and were replaced by the Special Representative for the Natural Born, Habimana Muteteli. His thick accent bespoke of his origins on the distant isles of the Sentwali Sea, but he was a Nephite, born and raised.
“...of these proceedings. Of course most of those who inhabit the Natural Born zones around our domes are hard-working honest people, just looking to provide for their families. They abhor violence and wish for the perpetrators to be apprehended and justice to be served for the brutal murders of not only our esteemed Consulates, but also many of their Natural Born brethren who showed up to their jobs at the casino that night, just trying to put food on their tables.”
“And how do you believe the Natural Born will respond to the new Natural Born Registry Bill proposed by Consulate Septus and widely believed to pass without much resistance?” Sophie’s voice inquired from off camera.
“I believe they will be very pleased with the bill. Why should they not be? They have nothing to hide. They expect the new tracking systems will provide them with more security from the violent Centauri that threaten not only the stability of our society, but also their own personal safety. They know that our governing body has their best interests at heart, and they feel good knowing our Overseers care enough to take a personal interest in their well-being, just as they take an interest in the well-being of the Nephites within the domes.”
“What a jackass,” Arian thought to himself. As if the lowborn would be happy about being branded and tracked like cattle. Would they next start tracking even members of the dome? Uneasiness settled upon him as he realized that, in a way, they already were tracking their own members, and he was the tracking device. The spinsters at the Central Tower were effective at framing their power grabs as a caring government protecting its people. Terrorist attacks by the Centauri always seemed beneficial for Parliament’s goals.
“Arian, you have a visitor at the door. I assume it is your food,” Athena’s voice rang out, breaking his revelry. Standing up for the first time in hours, his legs felt weak from lack of use, and as he headed toward the door to retrieve his meal, he realized that he needed to pee. Picking up his qubit to pay the deliveryman, he entered the marbled foyer, placed his feet into his slippers, and pushed the button that opened the door.
He was shocked to find, not a deliveryman, but a demure looking Kaiya awaiting him. Her auburn hair was pulled into a taut ponytail that started high on the back of her head and extended down past her shoulders. She was wearing a black fitted coat, buttoned to just above her stomach, revealing a nearly see-through white lace evening dress underneath. In the late afternoon light, he noticed for the first time the sprinkling of freckles on her creamy white skin. His shock turned to embarrassment as he realized how he must appear to her. His skin was oily, his hair unkempt, and he had the funk that only days of wallowing on a couch without showering can give you. She was gripping the tote of food delicately in her left hand and holding the wine in her right.
“I came up the elevator with your deliveryman and thought I might offer a more appetizing view.” She thrust the bottle of wine forward to him. “I see you enjoyed the Sagittarian wine we shared at dinner. Are you going to invite me in?” she asked, her high voice a barely audible whisper. Speechless and dumbfounded, Arian could manage only to step aside to allow her entry, taking the wine from her as she passed.
As she entered the foyer, she slipped her arms out of her coat, letting it fall, as if expecting Arian to be there to take it. He was. Hanging it on the rack in the corner, he turned back to find her facing him. His jaw dropped as he beheld her form, backlit by the sunlight streaming through the glass ceiling of the atrium. Her skin was even more visible beneath the white lace of her dress in this light. The material covered her from just above her breast to midway down her thigh. Black leather boots covered her lower legs to the knee. Her soft, rounded shoulders and long regal neck were exposed. She was beautiful.
Feeling vulnerable and exposed, not to mention having to relieve his bladder, Arian nervously excused himself.
“Please, have a seat in the atrium. I have something to take care of that won’t take long. Feel free to open the wine. Athena, please access the wine glasses.”
Rushing down the hall, he let out a sigh as the restroom door shut behind him, happy to be hidden from her gaze. Looking into the mirror above the sink, his worst suspicions were confirmed as the man looking back at him had oily hair going in every direction, bright red eyes with bags underneath, not to mention he was wearing his bed clothes. Moving to the toilet, he relieved himself and tried to regain his composure. He laughed out loud as his ego began to restore itself.
“What the hell is your problem?” he asked the face in the mirror. “You, a Nephite and one of the Institute’s most promising young professors, are bothered by the presence of a beautiful woman? He relaxed at this realization, yet still, he threw water on his face and hair, and exited looking better, his ego and self-assuredness restored as well. He found Kaiya sitting on a stool at the bar, legs crossed, hands folded in her lap, the wine unopened.
“Shall I pour us a glass?” he asked “I thought you would never ask. I’m thirsty and we have much to discuss.”
He walked to the end of the bar where Athena had raised the clean glasses. Grabbing two along with a corkscrew, he opened the wine and poured two generous portions, the pungent smell of the contents filling the room. They swirled the wine in their glasses, taking a moment to breathe in the rich earthy tones.
“This wine reminds me of home,” she said, breaking the silence. “I’m from the Sagittarian region of Avignon.”
Arian was caught off guard by the implications of this statement and was not able to hide his shock, though he quickly recovered.
“I had no idea,” he said. “Then you are Natural Born? When did you come to Capitol City?”
“You are very perceptive. I came some years ago, more than I care to admit. Age takes on more meaning for those of us born outside the domes.” She sipped her wine, a perfect example of grace and elegance. Somehow Arian, despite his privileged upbringing, felt barbaric around her as he gulped his own.
He mulled over her reply, trying to understand how a Natural Born could be in a position of power at the Institute. He ignored his reservations, not wishing to offend the beautiful woman sharing wine in his atrium.
“I see. And what did your family do in Avignon?” he inquired.
“My father managed a vineyard outside the domed city of Sikyon. The vineyard was owned by the family of Flavius Decimus. As you may or may not be aware, it is Decimus who produces all the Sagittarian wine enjoyed throughout Arameus. I grew up smelling the very earth feeding the grappa that produced this vintage. My father worked hard, but ultimately was a slave. Being endowed with certain assets others found desirable, I was able to gain access to many of the luxuries those born in your position take for granted.”
She was quiet as she looked down into her glass, swirling the wine gently. She seemed vulnerable. Not knowing how to respond, and not relating to the struggles of the lower class, Arian remained silent.
“However,” she continued after a moment, “you see me here, and I have managed to rise in my own way. I will never go back to what I was before. I am completely loyal to the vision of the Overseers and their mission to create a perfect society.”
“That much is clear. Still, I wonder at your motivations.”
“A lady must keep her secrets, Arian, surely you know that. Or has a woman never stolen your heart?” she asked in a playful tone, making brief eye contact.
“My work keeps me busy enough. I’ve never had much time for personal relationships. I was the youngest graduate of the Institute of Science, as well as the youngest assistant professor. I received the Overseers Grant for Biotechnology at the age of twenty-five. I have been told that my path was determined before my birth and I have not strayed from it. When my work is complete, I will find time for other indulgences. Time, as you know, is a commodity in which I am incredibly wealthy.”
“I am aware of your resume, Arian. Ansley would not have approached you if you did not possess prodigious skill. However, the pursuits of the body are quite different from the pursuits of the mind. Surely you must feel… certain urges for human companionship.” Kaiya looked at him, bringing her fingers to her chest, just below the neck, caressing her skin.
Arian stood next to her, watching her reflection in the mirror over the bar. Feeling the warm blood rushing to his face, he was forced to turn his gaze, sipping his wine, allowing its tart sweetness to roll over his tongue.
“Why are you here, Kaiya?” he asked. “I’m tired of these games.”
“I like a man that who’s forceful and knows what he wants,” she replied, smiling.
“Just answer the question.”
“Well, I had entertained the thought of making this a social visit, but since I can see you’re in a serious mood, let me show you something.” She pulled a flash drive from inside of her left boot and held it out to Arian. “Of course, I have no qubit so you will have to play this on yours,” she said, looking embarrassed for the first time since he had known her.
Taking the drive from her and placing it into a port on his qubit, Arian ordered Athena to play the hologram. The room was once again filled with smoke and fire, as he found himself in the midst of the bombing at the casino. This time, however, the hologram zoomed in on a man holding a severely burned woman in his arms. The image wasn’t clear, but Arian recognized the man to be Ansley Brightmore.
The audio feed had been disrupted during the bombing, but it was clear they were speaking to one another. It was also clear that Ansley had great affection for the dying woman. The video feed cut and the hologram disappeared.
“That’s strange,” Arian mused. “I wasn’t aware that Ansley was present at the bombing, though it’s not surprising. I’ve heard he goes to that casino four nights a week. Perhaps this explains why I haven’t heard from him. Is he okay?”
“He’s fine,” replied Kaiya. “And this woman he seems so attached to?”
“Of course he would have friends there. It was his second home.”
“I want you to look closer. Have your qubit play the hologram again. This time zoom in four times at the one minute and twenty second mark.”
Arian complied, and again his atrium was engulfed in flames, and again he saw the Professor with the dying worker. At the allotted time, the hologram zoomed in on the woman’s chest just as she extracted what appeared to be a drive from a locket on her neck. She passed it to the Professor and the video cut.
“What was that?” Arian asked.
“We don’t know. But we want you to find out. We pulled this video from the local security cameras outside the casino. The woman’s name was Sharie. She was a hostess for the high limit poker room and in charge of taking in and paying out credits. We believe she has been central in a credit-laundering scheme that’s been funneling money to Centauri terrorists. You need to find out why Ansley was with this woman, and you need to find out what is on that drive. Whatever it is, it’s clearly important enough to risk entering a burning building.”
Arian sat, dumbfounded by the information he was hearing, wondering himself what was going on. It seemed impossible that the man sharing drinks and memories of his parents could be caught up with the terrorists. That had been the same night as the bombing. The thought sent chills down his spine. He was struck by a peculiar thought.
“Why would the Institute care about a money laundering scheme or terrorists? What does any of this have to do with our University?” Arian demanded, glaring at Kaiya.
“I’m afraid I haven’t been forthright with you, Arian,” Kaiya answered, returning his gaze.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean only that the people that I represent go far above the Institute.”
“Who are you?”
“I am no one important. But believe me and take this to heart, the people I represent are extremely powerful and not to be crossed. You must do exactly as I say.”
“Why should I believe you? You have misrepresented yourself from the beginning. Why should I trust a Natural Born woman who can’t even state her purpose?”
Kaiya stood, taking Arian by his hand. In spite of his confusion and rising anger, his stomach fluttered with nervous anticipation. She pulled him to his feet and led him to the couch at the center of the atrium, sitting on it and pulling him down beside her. Before he could speak, she thrust her head forward, kissing him softly on the lips. Her lips were moist, tantalizing, and her smell, a blend of musk and citrus, triggered an increased heart rate. As far as Arian was concerned, Ansley and the Centauri were now a million miles away.
Pulling her head back, she remained within inches of his lips and whispered, “I need your trust, Arian. If not for the welfare of Arameus or for the people I represent, then do it for me.”
“What do they want of me?”
“Do everything that Ansley asks of you. Gain his trust. There is no saving him at this point, so ease your conscience. We need to know what he is working on, and we need to know what is on that drive. It could be the key to defeating the Centauri.”
“For you, I will do all of this, but I must know, for whom am I gathering this information?”
“As I said, a woman must always keep her secrets, but when this is over, you will have your explanation.”
He leaned in again in an attempt to kiss her, but she was already on her feet, heading toward the foyer. Rising to follow, he caught her by the arm as she grabbed her coat, spinning her around.
“You’re just going to leave?”
“I have to go now, Arian,” she replied. “I shouldn’t be here and I have other engagements tonight. We will talk again.”
Pressing the button that opened the door, she exited and was gone, leaving Arian standing alone in the foyer. Confusing as it all was, all he could think about was the feeling of her soft, wet lips upon his own.