“Is something troubling you, my love? You seem distant.” Tiberius was concerned Kaiya may be feeling overwhelmed by the mission. A person of her birth status was ill-equipped for the pressures of the Capitol. This, and the grim warning from Marco Luccio, is why he had sent her to Pathos. Still, that fire within her that he loved had cooled to a dim flicker.
Kaiya turned over on the bed to face him, brown eyes betraying no emotion. He could discern nothing from her gaze, but then, when had he ever been able to read her?
“You read me too well, my dear,” she responded. “I hate it here. These sea folk are unlike anyone I have met. They are shallower than the people in the capitol. And this salty air is ruining my complexion!”
Tiberius was kind in his response. “My darling, I had to send you here, for your safety as well as for mine. We could no longer be together in the Capitol. It was forbidden by the Overseers themselves.”
Kaiya furrowed her brow, unconvinced.
“I don’t feel right about what we’re doing to Arian. He seems nice. And Ansley seems nice as well. How could they be traitors?”
“It’s not your place, nor mine, to question the motives of the Overseers. They have their reasons, which I am sure are just and right. Rest easy now my love. Your part is over. You were able to get the drive that I believe will infiltrate the inner workings of the Centauri. Don’t trouble yourself, so. Nice means nothing.”
“But you are always nice to me,” she added, arching her back and moving over him.
“Between the sheets, I am as kind as any man, but in the political arena, I am sure you are aware, I am as deadly as a snake.”
“Yes, but you are my deadly snake,” Kaiya said seductively.
“Of course, my dear. Now let’s get out of this bed and meet the day. It isn’t often I get to enjoy what Pathos has to offer.”
He rose from the bed in the bungalow that Iulius had provided for Kaiya. It made Tiberius uneasy to be sheltering her in Pathos knowing the Overseers’ displeasure at his friend’s relationship with a Natural Born. Looking out the window at the ocean, waves crashing onto the rocky shore, he felt too far away for it to matter. He decided to take a shower. True, the bungalow didn’t offer the bathing comforts he was accustomed to, but he couldn’t complain about his beachside lodgings.
As he exited the bathroom, he found Kaiya waiting for him in the hallway, dressed in a fiery red bikini, holding two beach towels.
“Don’t you need to shower?” he asked.
“I shower in the ocean,” was her response as she grabbed him by the hand and led him out the door.
Outside the bungalow, Tiberius took a deep breath of fresh sea air. It was the only city of Arameus that wasn’t covered by a dome. Set in a bay that was surrounded by a mountain range, Pathos’ only entrance was a heavily guarded tunnel drilled by the government some two hundred years ago. It was the Nephites’ playground. Rental bungalows dotted the beach landscape, with the permanent residences and official buildings built into the mountainside. The contrast between natural, rugged beauty and sculpted marble and glass was breathtaking, even for a man such as Tiberius. The government had spared no expense in planning this world. Walking along the boardwalk toward the beach, he felt more relaxed than he had in fifty years, his stress melting away in the presence of such awe-inspiring architecture and geology.
The most striking element was the warmth of the yellow day sun on his body. It seemed to literally cook his skin, which, after being protected from UV rays by the domes for all these years, had almost no pigment. The night before, he had been so red he needed to call in a burn cream from the local pharmacy, which returned his skin to its white brilliance. In the distant past, he would have been worried that these rays caused long term damage to his skin, making him age, but even this would be remedied when he returned to Capitol City and received his nanocyte injections.
Tiberius set the two beach towels onto the black volcanic sand as Kaiya bounded into the waves. He laughed to himself as a large one knocked her down, submerging her. She jumped back out of the water and turned to him, waving and laughing. It was a shame that the two of them could never be officially together. She made him happy. What was the purpose of wielding all this power if he could not be with the one who made him feel this way? In that sense, he had no power at all. This thought troubled him, and he put it away. He was not a man who dwelled on negative things.
As Kaiya splashed in the waves, a Natural Born living a Nephite fantasy, he settled down on a towel and allowed the yellow day sun to warm his face. As the surf crashed on the beach, he was lulled into a state of relaxation. Tiberius entered the void between sleep and cognizance, where time became confused. He was occupying a world of abstract visions, half real and half fantasy. In his dream, he was climbing a pyramid, trying to reach Kaiya, but no matter how high he climbed, she was always out of reach. She seemed so powerful, as though by reaching her, anything would be possible. As he got close, the pyramid, then his entire world collapsed, everything sucked down into blackness, as though it no longer existed.
A sharp vibration startled him awake. Opening his eyes, it took him a minute to re-orient himself. Realizing where he was, he reached to the pocket of his shorts and found the transponder that the Overseer, Marco Luccio, had given him when he received his promotion. He looked to Kaiya and found her still playing in the surf.
“Damn,” he thought to himself, bolting upright. Of course he had to answer, but they knew he was on vacation. Did they know whom he was with? Composing himself quickly, he placed the transponder to his ear. “Your Grace, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”
“Pleasure indeed,” intoned Overseer Luccio in his decrepit voice. “Are you able to speak freely, Tiberius?”
Tiberius looked around the beach and, finding no one within hearing range, answered in the affirmative.
“Good. I can’t say I approve of this vacation, my son, but your choice of location may prove beneficial to our plans.”
“How do you mean, your Grace?” responded Tiberius.
“In time. First we must make pleasantries. How are you finding your stay? Is Pathos as pleasurable as we designed it to be?
“It is exceedingly so, your Grace.”
“I’m glad to hear that, truly. If I recall, the women in Pathos are quite nice as well. Have you found an opportunity to sample the local offerings?”
Tiberius hesitated.
Laughing, Marco didn’t give him a chance to respond.
“I guess Avignon has its own offerings.”
Tiberius only managed to utter a guttural “Uh,” before Marco cut him off.
“Relax, Tiberius. I have an assignment for you, one that is perfectly suited to your present scenery.”
“I will do anything. What is it?”
“I am aware you are staying in a bungalow owned by your fellow consulate Iulius Van Arsdale.”
Tiberius felt his skin crawl at this statement. Of course the Overseer would know. How could he not?
“I need you to send a man from Pathos on a mission in the name of the Special Parliamentary Security Division. I know he is an old friend of yours. Do you trust him to carry out such a mission?”
“Yes, I do,” responded Tiberius. “I would trust him with anything.”
In his head, Tiberius thought over the changes he had seen in his friend when they had met at the Cheshire Pub. This worried him, but he still felt confident that his oldest friend would not disappoint him.
“I’m pleased to hear this because our mission must begin immediately. We have received some interesting information from an informant in the coal mines 300 miles east of the paradise you currently inhabit. There is evidence that a large quantity of mined coal is being lost. Our sources suggest this could be one of the ways the Centauri are powering their operations.”
“But why would we need to send a consulate to deal with a group of rebellious miners?”
“This is a valid question. The mine is loosely governed by us, but is predominantly run by Don Gravano. His family has proven difficult in the past, but they wield great power in the outlying districts, amongst the Natural Born. Sending a consulate will be both a show of respect to his power and a threat of ours. Obviously he would not be so foolish as to shun a Consulate of Arameus.”
“Then send me. My mere name inspires fear amongst those outside our cities. Should I not be the one to meet with this Don Gravano?”
“Your loyalty is inspiring and worthy, Tiberius, but Gravano is a dangerous man and would be more accepting of a man from his own region. Yet as the head of the Security Division, I leave the final decision to you.”
“I understand, Your Grace. What shall I have Iulius do?”
Tiberius listened as Overseer Luccio detailed the plan while he watched Kaiya ride wave after wave with her youthful body. He was relieved when Marco ended the encounter just as she rushed up the beach toward him.
“I’ve changed my mind about Pathos,” she declared, tackling him to the towel and kissing him on the lips. “Maybe it got better because you’re here.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun,” he answered halfheartedly, his clothes dampening from the water dripping off her body.
“I’m having so much fun. Who were you talking to?”
“No one important,” he replied. “Just business from the Capitol.”
“Always working.”
“Indeed. Baby, I’m going to need you to do lunch by yourself. I have business with Iulius this afternoon.”
Frowning, Kaiya stared at Tiberius, searching his eyes for information before responding, “Is everything alright, my love?”
“Of course, dear, but I must leave immediately.” Tiberius kissed her before standing and walking down the beach, leaving Kaiya to watch him disappear from view.
On Luccio’s orders, he was to go to a cabana located on the highest peak overlooking the city. It housed an exclusive restaurant and bar patronized by Pathos’ elite. He walked to the closest station that housed the high-speed magnetic vehicles the public used to travel within the city.
He found a representative for Luccio waiting for him. Dressed in a brown tunic, his brooch identified him. Depicting a snake strangling an eagle, the official Luccio family crest showed this was a dangerous man. He was well tanned, with thinning blonde hair and an air of danger. Introducing himself only as Siva, Tiberius found the man’s utter lack of regard for his station distasteful.
As they entered the private, unmanned vehicle, Siva typed in the coordinates of their destination. The console then asked for security clearance. Siva lost a bit of his mystique as he turned to Tiberius. As soon as Tiberius finished punching the final number, the car shot off at a high speed, leaving the beach behind and entering the main part of the city. It took sharp turns without slowing, and Tiberius more than once found himself thrown around the interior before deciding to grab two handrails. This drew a disdainful laugh from Siva. As they approached the eastern mountains, they connected with a track that lifted them up over the city and into the sky, so high that Tiberius felt his ears pop from the pressure change. At their destination, the car stopped abruptly, nearly throwing him again.
Tiberius was overwhelmed by the view of Pathos from the mountaintop. The marbled city spilled down the mountain to the black-sand beach and brilliant blue water, which opened into the expansive ocean. He would have to bring Kaiya here before leaving. Of anyone, she would appreciate the panoramic view. Siva grabbed him by the arm and steered him toward the open-air restaurant. The simplicity of the architecture was surprising, but Tiberius assumed that the designers had not wanted to compete with the natural beauty of the surroundings.
They entered a square bar covered by a thatch roofed hut with grills to the side for preparing the food of the region’s original inhabitants. He could smell a mixture of pork, pineapple, salty air, and pine trees. There was one man seated at the bar, wearing the traditional robes of a member of Parliament, whom Tiberius immediately knew to be Iulius. How could he have gotten here already?
Iulius turned to him, revealing the familiar scar on his left cheek, and his weasel-like face.
“Tiberius, old friend!” he said cheerfully. “I see you’ve met my new friend Siva.”
Tiberius was surprised by the greeting, as it was his understanding that the choice of Iulius for this mission had been his alone. He didn’t let the unsettled feeling growing within show.
“I can see by the redness of your scar that you have been drinking without me,” he answered with equal warmth. “And how do you know Siva?” he added.
“He came to me this morning on behalf of Overseer Luccio and said I should be here at this hour, that you might have a request for me.”
Shooting Siva a glance, Tiberius took a seat next to his friend and Iulius continued.
“Your constant rise has never surprised me, Tiberius, but to be selected as Chief Security Officer of Arameus by an Overseer, I could have never expected you to reach these heights.”
Looking back to Siva, who held his distance, Tiberius spoke in a lower tone.
“I thank you, my friend. Your kind words humble me.”
“You have never felt humble in your life,” Iulius retorted, laughing. “Get us a round of Tegave, bartender! Where did the bartender go? Siva, grab us a couple of drinks!” When Siva didn’t respond, Iulius merely shrugged at Tiberius.
“You should take it easy, Iulius, you have important business to conduct today,” said Tiberius in a measured tone.
“And what exactly is the business?” inquired Iulius.
After Tiberius recounted Marco Luccio’s story of the coal and the meeting with Don Gravano, Iulius waved him off with a flippant hand.
“I will have no problem dealing with a low-born coal gangster. This is my district, Tiberius, and I command the respect of the people in the outer regions. I will have them do whatever the Capitol wishes. I don’t understand why we allow these gangsters to wield so much power in the Natural Born world. So what deal am I to make with this Gravano?”
“The Capitol wishes that you deliver surveillance equipment to the Don and impress upon him the importance of stopping any leakages of coal from the government owned mines. The Capitol has already informed Gravano of your arrival and provided you with a small bribe to pay him with the expectation that his men will come down on any perceived misconduct with a heavy hand,” answered Tiberius.
“Simple enough. When do I leave, and how am I to travel? Of course, I will need my security detail.”
It was Siva who responded from behind.
“We have arranged for a Capitol Raven to arrive upon my request. It waits nearby with your cargo, your security team, and a woman whom the Overseers thought may provide you with comfort on your journey.”
“Great. Call them,” commanded Iulius.
Siva whispered something into a transponder on his wrist and within moments the hulking black ship appeared over the mountains to the north, rising first on jet turbines underneath before switching to jets in the back that propelled it forward at such speeds it reached them in less than a minute. The ship came to an abrupt stop as its forward thrusters fired and its lower turbines eased it onto the landing pad.
“I’m riding in style, Tiberius,” said Iulius, full of excitement. “Soon I will be more important than you!” He stood from his stool and embraced his old friend.
“Be careful, Iuli,” warned Tiberius.
“It is time,” said Siva, grabbing Iulius by the arm and leading him toward the Raven. Tiberius was uneasy as he watched them walk away and enter the transport. Something about Siva rubbed him the wrong way. It was of no real concern though. Iulius was a capable politician, and he would have his security detail along with him. Tiberius turned back to the bar and ordered a drink from the bartender, who had appeared as Siva exited. He might as well enjoy the view.
As Iulius boarded the Raven, he was greeted by his security detail, comprised of his closest friends. Soon after, his eyes found Katrina.
“My little Natty,” he cried, running to her and sweeping her into his arms. “I’m so glad they sent you. I guess our trysts in the Capitol were noticed, and you are my reward for my hard work!”
She greeted him with equal delight, burying her head in his chest.
“Well, obviously, you know my security detail.” Iulius’ friends gave Katrina polite bows. “This unhappy oaf is Siva.” Siva made no acknowledgement of her existence. “I was just thinking when I was given this mission, how great it would be to take you to some of the outer regions.”
Their journey was filled with the laughter that flows when old friends and lovers reunite. They looked out the windows admiring the scenery as they soared over the protective mountains of Pathos and out into the red desert that comprised the eastern province. By this time in the late afternoon, the yellow day sun and red night sun were at equal and opposite distances in the sky, bathing them in an orange glow. It was only forty minutes before the red mountains from which they mined the coal came into view. Surrounded by the camps where the miners spent their evenings and a protective fence with guard towers to defend the claim, the mine was an intimidating place. The larger structures and landing pads were outside the fences, where the wealthy Natural Born with interests in the red coal resided when visiting.
As they slowed and descended upon the city that surrounded the mine, the guards and Iulius were excited. It wasn’t often that members of Arameus were able to travel to the outside world, other than flying over on trips to other domes. Secretly, Iulius hoped that Don Gravano would take them to a Natural Born restaurant and allow them to sample the local food and drink. Of course, they would need to visit the nanocyte treatment center upon returning to Pathos to protect themselves from any outside germs that they had not been exposed to in their sheltered world. As the Raven came to rest on the landing pad, the doors opened and the exit ramp lowered. Iulius spotted a man who could only be Don Gravano waiting on the other side of a red velvet carpet that extended from the ramp to their welcoming committee.
Don Gravano was a large man, fat even. He was bigger than any man living in Arameus. There, the nanocytes prevented excess fat. This was a man who enjoyed the spoils of his position in this mining community. He was bald on top and tanned by the harsh desert sun. Lavishly dressed in a black suit, with diamond rings gleaming on his fingers, Gravano was flanked by three guards on each side who appeared unarmed.
“Good,” Iulius thought to himself. “These men respect authority.”
“Leave your arms, men,” he announced to his security detail. “This is a friendly meeting. Come, Katrina. Let us go meet our host.”
They exited the ramp and walked toward their welcoming committee, Katrina and Iulius in the front, with eight guards trailing on either side of them. Siva exited as well, following far behind. Walking the velvet carpet, they gazed at the buildings on either side, structures made of different colored bricks and brightly painted wood rising to a height of three stories. The terra cotta roofing complemented the walls. They contrasted with the domed cities, and Iulius found them appealing. Balconies, likely from apartments, dotted the sides of the buildings. When they were five feet from Don Gravano, the party came to a halt.
Inclining his head in a sign of respect and humility, Iulius issued the standard formal greeting.
“As a member of the Parliament of Arameus, a representative of Pathos, and a special envoy for our Chief Security Officer, I greet you cordially, Don Gravano.”
Don Gravano neither inclined his head nor bothered to speak. He sneered back with such disdain and hate that Iulius was himself speechless. No one treated a man of his rank in this manner. Regaining his composure, he began anew.
“As I was saying, I bring a gift for you as well as a special request from our great Overseer Marco Luccio. I was informed you would be aware of this agreement.”
From this distance Iulius could see Gravano’s yellow, crooked teeth, exposed by the sneer that had yet to leave his face. The gentle breeze carried his body odor, which stank of sweat and garlic.
“Marco Luccio, you say?” Gravano replied after a long pause, his voice oozing with sarcasm. “I am aware of this man. A great man, this Marco Luccio.”
“Good. Then you have been informed of our proposal?”
“Indeed, I am aware of a proposal,” Gravano responded. “Marco told me to offer you his condolences.”
Iulius was only puzzled for a moment before a loud CRACK startled him. He looked around confused, but found Gravano and his guards hadn’t moved. Then he heard Katrina let out a choked scream followed by a sickening gurgling sound. He rushed over to her as she fell to the ground, blood spouting from a gunshot wound to the neck. Looking up at the balcony from which he heard the shot, he heard multiple other shots firing all around, followed by the dull thuds of his guards’ bodies hitting the dirt. As he turned to protest to Gravano, he felt a sting in his chest and gazed down to see blood staining his white robes. He felt woozy and collapsed to the ground, reaching for Katrina. As he lay, bleeding to death, he clutched her hand and looked into her pale face, her dead eyes staring into infinity. He felt a shadow cover him and struggled to turn his gaze upward. Siva stood over him with a gun barrel pointed at his face.
“I have your drink, Consulate,” was the last thing he heard as Siva smiled for the first time. Then his final vision, the flash of the barrel as he fired.
Leaving his escort to deal with the bodies, Gravano tried to avoid stepping into the pools of blood spilling over the carpet and launch pad as he followed Siva back to the Raven. As Siva unloaded the large boxes of automatic weapons, flashbangs, and explosives, courtesy of Capitol City, the Don could hardly contain his joy.
***
The sky was turning from orange to red before Tiberius decided to leave the cliff top bar. He had enjoyed his time alone with his thoughts, drinks, and the local food, but now he knew Kaiya would be worried, and it appeared that Siva and Iulius might be some time on their mission. Returning to the car by which he had arrived, he programmed the coordinates for the beachfront station.
Walking from the station to the bungalow he shared with Kaiya, he was at peace, happy to be helping Iulius advance in the eyes of the Capitol, but happier still to return to his lover’s embrace. Entering the bungalow, he was met by silence, no noises coming from the atrium console or the bedroom. She must be sleeping.
Excited to slide into bed with Kaiya he entered the room, but found it empty. Searching, he found a hastily written note on the bedside table. Lifting it to read, he nearly passed out and had to sit on the bed to keep from falling. He read the note over and over again.
Tiberius, I’m sorry to have to rush off, but something came up. I have returned to Avignon to keep you safe. I will love you always.
-Kaiya