"Kaia, why are you so jumpy?" Cat asked.

"I asked Barrak to check the records for Imperial Guard Maru Takkar Sein," Lokaia explained, pacing the room.

There was silence for a moment as Cat and Rosie exchanged a glance. "What did he say?" Rosie said finally.

Lokaia sighed, shaking her head as she sank into a chair across from them. She met their gazes hesitantly and replied, "There is no record of an Imperial Guard by that name."

There was another beat of silence as both Saturnian and Mercurian thought that over. Lokaia continued her nervous actions--chewing on her lip and tapping one foot. "Kaia?" Cat spoke up. "What are you going to do?"

The Elvian met her gaze, unsure. "I... well, I wasn't sure when I got the message. I think I might have been a little, um, well...."

"Crazy?" Rosie supplied innocently.

Lokaia shot her a look. "Disoriented," she said.

"What did you do?" Rosie asked.

Lokaia closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "I told Barrak to ask Jalan's son if he remembered him."

"Jalan's son?" Rosie was shocked. "But how would anyone know who his son is?"

"The first son of the Lord is known," Cat told her quickly, leaning forward to Lokaia. "So? What did he say?"

Lokaia shook her head. "I don't know. He won't speak to me, so I have to wait until Barrak calls back."

"He won't speak to you?" Rosie repeated, distracted by the sudden whimpering of her daughters beside her.

Lokaia smiled wanly. "He won't speak to me because he is Jalan's son, basically. He doesn't particularly like Barrak, either, but he'll talk to him because the Elders would be angry with him if he didn't."

Rosie situated both of her girls on her knees, smiling at them happily. She was lost to the conversation, but Cat looked worried. "Kaia," she began slowly. "If Jalan's son does remember Maru... what then? What will you do?"

Lokaia opened her mouth to speak and found that she had nothing to say. She sighed and averted her gaze. "Kai," Cat tried again.

"I don't know," Lokaia said suddenly. "I just... I don't know, Cat. I-I'll figure it out."

The telescreen beeped, calling all three of the women's attention. Lokaia sat frozen for a moment before glancing at Rosie and Catalina. Taking a deep breath, she stood and opened the message.

They were met with Barrak's face as he nodded. "Heiress," he greeted. "Mrs. Band, Mrs. Ianni."

Rosie and Cat nodded. "Barrak?" Lokaia prompted.

He nodded again. "Orelis remembers the name. He was Jalan's Imperial Guard from 2244 to 2252, UPP years."

Lokaia sighed hard, pressing a hand against her forehead as if dizzy. "Okay," she muttered. "All right. Well, what happened? Why did he leave and why wasn't he in the records?"

Barrak shrugged apologetically. "Orelis did not know, and the Elders did not say, though I assume they may know the real answer. All I have are speculations."

Cat looked over at Lokaia. "And we've got the real story."

The Elvian female shot the Saturnian a sharp look, which softened as Rosie's gaze joined Cat's. "Yes," she said quietly. "We do. Thank you, Barrak, and thank Orelis for me as well." The viewscreen went dark, and Lokaia turned, studiously avoiding the two gazes of her friends, and left the room.

"Lokaia."

The Elvian jumped, the dim light of the room barely showing Radu as he jumped beside her. Lokaia yawned and squinted at the android. "Thelma? Don't do that."

Thelma nodded. "Okay. But you need to come to the med lab."

"Thelma, it's three o'clock in the morning," Radu informed her, hiding a yawn. "Is everything all right?"

"No one's hurt, are they?" Lokaia asked worriedly.

"Not any more than usual," Thelma reported. "Maru wishes to speak with you, Lokaia."

"Maru?" Lokaia demanded, shocked. "What does he need me for?"

"I do not know."

Lokaia made a face, focusing past the android. She sighed and nodded. "All right, Thelma. I'll go down to the med lab and you can go back to... to whatever it is you do."

Thelma nodded and left the room. Lokaia chewed on her lip nervously until she felt Radu's hand cover her own. "Do you want me to come with you?" he asked.

Lokaia sighed and shook her head. "No, don't worry about it. You can go back to sleep, and I'll handle this." She kissed him without much energy, slipped out of bed and left the room. "Good night."

Radu was out before she was gone.

Lokaia paused ten meters from the door to the med lab, fingering the mug in her hand. She had stopped off at the mess hall to get a cup of tea to wake herself up. She sighed and glanced at the second mug in her left hand. That she had done automatically. The more time spent with Maru, the more Lokaia surprised herself with her actions and words. And it wasn't always a good surprise. Lokaia was fully aware of the hypocricy and stupidity of quite a few of her words and actions since the Elve man had entered the ship. She had never thought of herself as either of those things before--well, perhaps stupid, but not a hypocrite. She rolled her eyes and exhaled sharply, stepping quickly towards the lab and inside.

"Niana?"

Lokaia swallowed hard. "Y-yes."

Maru nodded. "I apologize for calling you so late."

"It was not a problem," she told him softly.

The old man laughed. "Of course it was. Do not pretend that I have not caused you much irritation. Say what you feel, Niana."

Lokaia stared at him for a moment, unsure. "Niana?" Maru repeated.

"I brought you some tea," Lokaia murmured, coming to his side to hand it to him.

His hands closed around it and he smiled. "Thank you, child." He took a long sip, apparently pleased.

Lokaia waited, trying to stifle a yawn and failing. It was, after all, 0300. "Maru?" she asked quietly. "Why did you call for me?"

The old man nodded and set the mug down. "Ah. Quick to the point aren't you?" He laughed quietly. "Or just exhausted?"

"Both, I suppose," Lokaia answered, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand.

"I see." There was a pause. "I suppose you'll want me to be frank with you?"

"It is your story," Lokaia reminded him. "If you'd like to be then--"

"I have a theory," he interrupted her. "A theory that not only have you knowledge of my daughter, but you do in fact know her personally."

"You have not even told me her name yet," Lokaia protested.

"Names are unimportant," Maru told her with the wave of a hand. "Ayina was only Violet to me for almost a full year. And for years afterward, I still referred to her that way. In any case, that is my theory. We shall see if it is true. And then, Miss Niana, will come your story."

Lokaia started, surprised that she had forgotten making such a promise. "Ah... yes. Yes, then my story."

The Elvian male nodded. "Good. Now...."

*~*Part Five*~*

Jalan sat anxiously at my side, tapping his fingers together in a very annoying fashion. "Jalan, will you calm down? Elne said he would give us word the moment anything changed."

"Yes, I know that of course," he snapped irritably at me. "Or perhaps that unqualified fool wishes to torment me. I haven't a clue what is going on in there!"

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "Yes, and amusing as that is, you must try to calm yourself. Colyr's condition has not changed and once it has, you shall be the first to know. All right?"

His fingers continued to tap compulsively. "Yes, yes, whatever."

The drumming sound was beginning to bother me quite a bit and I slammed my hand over his with a glare. "Will you please stop that? If you won't calm down, you can at least be a bit less annoying."

He returned my glare and yanked his hand away. "I would be much less annoying if you worried more, Maru."

I shrugged. "Why should I worry? Lord Colyr is a fairly good man and he will be missed if this is his time. In any case, you are fully aware that almost all Elves think of you as their new Lord now?"

"Of course I am," Jalan snapped. "But I won't have all the legal power if the old coot does not die today! He's lasted far too long as is, and he was supposed to die years ago!"

I froze, and slowly turned my head to stare at him. "What?"

"That idiot, Elne, has been predicting his death for years!" Jalan continued. "No doubt he would find it amusing to trick me once again."

"You were worried about him living?" I demanded. "For Smorf's sake, Jalan, one would think you would feel compassion for your own mentor!"

"And one would be wrong," Jalan commented, leaning back and tapping his fingers against the table again. "Do not misunderstand me, Maru, I do not want the old man to suffer. I simply wish him to be out of the way. Now stop looking at me like that!" I had been gaping at him. "It is a perfectly reasonable feeling to have."

I was about to counter that when Colyr's door opened. Elne stepped out, a grave look upon his face. "Heir Jalan...."

"What?" Jalan snapped apprehensively.

It seemed that Elne was biting back some sort of emotion that could have even been tears and sadness. His assistant came up behind him to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Elne nodded, turned away, and his assistant turned to Jalan. He paused for a moment before dropping to one knee, bowing his head and murmuring, "My Lord."

I was shell-shocked. Colyr was dead--at peace at last, or so I hoped. I stood to comfort Elne but Jalan took it as my congratulating him and embraced me where I stood. "Did you hear that, my friend? Lord Jalan!"

I nodded, attempting a smile but all I really felt right then was an apprehensive fear.

"I don't mind at all," Roscel told me, adjusting his uniform. "Colyr was a good man. I'll miss him greatly. But I am not quite ready for retirement."

Daut grinned at me. "Still... to be taking orders from Maru...."

I rolled my eyes. "Do not forget that you take orders from me as well, Daut."

"Yes, but I've always taken orders from you."

"So, do not forget it."

Roscel (and more importantly, sober Roscel) only laughed at us and clapped Daut on the shoulder. "It is not a horrible thing, really. This man has kept me from making a drunken fool of myself many times."

I smiled wanly. "Sometimes."

"Enough times," he told me. "I do not mind being under your command." His grin grew. "And if one of us had to associate with Lord Jalan more, I am glad that it is you, and not I."

I made a face at him as he and Daut laughed. "Thank you, Roscel." I glanced at my watch and nodded to them. "We must be going now. It's time."

Their laughter was silenced as I led the way to the throne room. It was filled with nobles and royals, with Jalan sitting on the throne that had not two weeks earlier been occupied by Lord Colyr. There was a notary at one side, and a kinto (an Elvian holy man, you know) just behind him. The kinto puzzled me, but I knew better than to interrupt this ceremony to ask questions. I took my place at Jalan's side and he acknowledged my presence with a nod. I didn't even both raising an eyebrow--he would tell me when he deemed it worthy, if ever.

As I studiously avoided thinking about it too much, the main doors opened to reveal two guards and a woman between them. The woman was young, barely seventeen it seemed, and next to Jalan, she seemed even younger. She wore a white robe and veil, hiding her face. Her hair was blonde and tied back in a braid that fell down to her ankles. She and the guards stopped in the center of the room as the notary stepped up to Jalan.

The man's voice was old and reedy as he read from the file. "Jalan Batar Tero, do you take the position offered to you?"

Jalan nodded assent. "Yes."

"Bow down," the notary ordered. Jalan knelt before him, and the notary turned to his assistant, picking up a gold diadem. He turned back to Jalan and set it on his brow. "You may stand." As Jalan returned to his feet, the notary spoke again. "Jalan Batar Tero, you are the Lord of our people."

The beam on his face nearly blinded me as he caught my eye and winked. I smiled wanly, but he had turned back before he saw it. The notary bowed to him, and left the palace, hardly noticed. Jalan took a seat in the throne behind him, obviously pleased, and gestured.

The woman, along with her guards, stepped forward. Jalan regarded her cooly until she stopped before him. He gestured to one of the guards, who removed her veil. Jalan stood, and reached out, roughly grasping her chin and yanking it upwards. The woman hardly flinched and, apparently knowing Jalan's prefence, looked past him as opposed to into his eyes. "Name?" Jalan demanded.

"Mayana Kolora Anin, my Lord," she murmured.

Not that Jalan was too interested in her name. He nodded to the kinto, who stepped inbetween them. "You are wed," he informed them ceremoniously. "Kiss." Jalan pulled her forward by the back of her head, kissing her.

End Elvian marriage ceremony. Isn't that just the epitome of romance?

What? Oh, my story, yes....

The formality of the moment was over quickly as the kinto and lesser guards left the palace. Jalan was first, of course, dragging the young Mayana behind him. A rogue wink from him gave me an idea of his plans. Plans which I did not want to know about.

Without much else to do, I ignored Roscel's comments and retired to my apartment.

I informed Violet of my Lady Mayana as soon as possible, and though I did not expect a response, was not displeased when I found one. The note was short, almost nonexistent, and it was pathetic how much I enjoyed reading it.

"I thank you, Maru."

Truly pathetic, really.

Shortly after I had memorized the four words and deleted the message, I received another message from Jalan. A request, asking me to come to his room. And after such a wonderful high from a message from Violet, I hardly cared that Jalan's request was probably longer working hours.

When I entered his study, he was seated behind his desk, madly typing into a small computer. He saw me as I came in and smiled, setting the computer down on the desk. "Maru! Glad you came so quickly."

I nodded and sat across from him. "Of course, Jalan. What did you need?"

"Oh, just to discuss a few plans is all," he informed me, straightening up his cluttered desk. "Lengthening the patrol times of Jasa and his men, an attack on the rebels--"

"A what?!" My outburst went basically unnoticed, but I still felt the reason to validate it. "Because, ah, this would take a bit of planning, you see."

"Yes, yes, planning," he told me hurriedly. "I want you to spread the word throughout the guards and let them all know the plan."

I struggled to keep from crying out, and kept my voice level. "Yes, of course. And what is this plan exactly?"

"Ah, that. Their meeting place is in Taliesen, the southern marketplace." He met my gaze and smiled. "Would you like to accompany them?"

"Perhaps you should explain the rest of the plan," I said quietly.

He nodded, taking out a file to refer to. "I've already assembled our best telekinetics and they'll be armed with blasters as well." He grinned. "The rebels will not be coming back, dear friend. It is scheduled for tomorrow night."

I swallowed hard and managed to give him a grim smile. "Excellent idea, Jalan. I will inform the guards immediately." I rose and made my way to the door.

"Maru?" I turned back to see him studied another file, and he spoke without looking at me. "Did you wish to be involved in the attack?"

I paused for a moment, hiding my emotions behind that very grim smile. "No, I don't think so. But thank you, Jalan. It is an honor to be asked. I will just inform the guards now." He waved at me as I left. I made it to my apartment without an outburst, but the second the doors closed I could not help but yell with frustration.

I left word for Violet as quickly as possible. Short, concise, and to the point, the gist of it was, "Get your people the hell out of there, and fast!" I only hoped she would check for a message in time.

The guards (a.k.a., the assasins) left late the next night, and surprisingly, Jalan accompanied them. He asked me to come along one more time. My response was something eloquent like,

"Oh...uh...that work that...you, er...gave...to me...you know...."

Thankfully, he didn't pay much attention to my ramblings. Only clapped me on the shoulder and, with a warm smile, left for his attack. Hopefully, they would level the building before noticing that there was no one inside.

Even with the confidence I had in Violet to convince her people, I still spent most of the evening in my apartment, poring over documents without actually reading them or digesting a bit of information from them. Within two hours (8 minutes and 20 seconds... not that I was counting) the guards had returned, and Jalan called me to his room.

Hiding my eagerness for his news, I glanced at Mayana as she handed me a drink and sat with my friend. "Well? How was it?"

He grinned at me. "Not bad. Not bad at all." His smile faltered and he sighed, leaning forward to meet my eyes. "Maru... should I inform you of a lie I have told... would you forgive me?"

Keeping myself from screaming out "What have you done?!" I nodded, concerned. "Of course, my friend."

"I have lied to you, Maru." He shook his head. "I did not want to, but it was necessary for the plan. You see, it is suspected that there is a mole within the palace, leaking information to the rebels."

"No! Who would do such a thing?"

Jalan sighed. "I still do not know. But the plan tonight had to be kept completely secret just in case."

My eyes narrowed in confusion. "But you had me inform all of the guards...?"

"Yes," he said hesitantly, with a bit of a wince. "That was the lie. The information was false. We did not attack their place in Taliesin, but their haven in Acajou. You see, I thought that if we spread the news of Taliesin earlier yesterday, that by the time of the attack tonight, they all would have relocated. So, you see? You needed to be fooled in order for the plan to work." With regret on his face, he put his hand over mine. "I do apologize, my friend. I did not want to--"

"What happened?" I demanded, my voice low and tight.

He was surprised. "To what?"

I swallowed hard, attempting to keep my composure. "To the rebels, Jalan. Did you k--did you succeed?"

"Yes," he replied, a relieved smile on his face. Good news would help me forgive him, would it? "Yes, they were all sheltered there. The job was finished quickly. We'll not be having any more trouble from them." He looked at me quizically. "Are you all right, Maru? You look pale. Are you ill?"

"Possibly," I told him, flashing a tight smile. "I don't believe the wonaca was cooked well. Perhaps I should lie down for the rest of the night."

He nodded, standing as I did. "Yes, that is an excellent idea. Rest, my friend, for tomorrow we shall celebrate our victory." He grinned again, and waved as the door closed behind me.

I made it to my room calmly, locking the door behind me, and putting out a request to say that I should not be disturbed until I came out. Quickly, possibly faster than I had ever moved in my life, I changed from my uniform to darker street clothes, a hat over my bright red hair. Turning off all of the lights in my room, I made for the window.

Split-second decisions are tricky, and in more way than one. Later, someone will have to inform me of everything that comes after 'how to get out of the Imperial Palace without getting caught.' Guards practically lined the entire grounds, and while I could pull rank and get them out of my way, I would not be able to convince them to not inform Jalan, who would question my motives later.

It was infuriating to be sitting there, stock still, knowing that I couldn't leave the premises, or even move a muscle, until I found a way to distract these guards. I found myself noticing inconsequential things, trying to find something of use. Two guards were having a conversation; one was tossing a rock in his hand; most were staring out into space.

Wait.

I focused on the rock. It flew quickly and smashed into the forehead of the nearest guard to it. The injured man turned toward the rock's previous owner, shouting angrily. The rock-owner was pleading his own innocence as more of the rock-attacked's friends grouped up behind him. Several guards came up behind the rock-owner to defend him, which seemed to only offend the attacked and his friends. A fight erupted between the two groups, and in the violence of the moment, I slipped away.

I knew the area of Acajou fairly well, as I did almost every other Elvian settlement. It also helped that there was quite a bit of smoke over a specific bit of the area. I stole quietly through the passages, keeping my eyes and ears open, expecting the worst. I don't know what I was thinking--there was no way Ayina could have lived through that attack. She would not even have been dreadfully injured. The woman was dead. And though I said the words in my head countless times I could not bring myself to turn back to the palace.

An acrid smell of burning debris and flesh hit my nose miles before I even came to the site of attack. It was still smoking, burning in temperature even from my position of thirty feet away. I could barely bring myself to look at it, much less search through the mess. But curiosity and worry won over disgust, and I moved closer.

The temperature was stifling up close, the smell absolutely rancid, but the sight was the worst. Charred remains of the building, of course, but every once in a while there was a suggestion of a hand, or a foot. Elvian remains. I distanced myself from the situation as best as I could, and it was not easy. I walked around the perimeter, searching for survivors or clues that would tell me where they would have gone. Amidst the charcoal and rubbish was a bright flash of fabric and I ran to it the moment it caught my eye. It was small, but the bright red color forced it to stand out. I reached for it, holding it in my hand and saw that it was the remains of a doll's dress. I picked it up and found it caught on something. Bending forward, I attempted to disengage it from the piece of blackened debris.

A nail.

I dropped it quickly, stepping backwards, and turning away from it all. A tiny hand had been clutching the doll, not debris. My stomach was turning flips and I was not feeling well. I swallowed hard and took a few deep breaths but all that did was make the rancid smell stronger. I had to focus. I was here for Violet, and I still hadn't found her.

I forced myself to turn back, but stayed farther from the mess than I had before, walking around the perimeter. I saw nothing more than blackened, charred debris and I was beginning to feel extremely ill. I began to tell myself to face facts--Ayina was dead. She did not survive this. What did I even hope would come from the relationship from her?

Stopping Jalan, of course.

Jalan? You fool, Jalan has nothing to do with your relationship with the girl. You know why you seek her company.

No.

Yes.

I stopped where I was and shook my head, clearing it. It was impossible--unthinkable. Even if Violet lived.... But she didn't. I wrenched myself away from the scene, heading back towards the palace. And just as quickly as I had turned, I froze.

A figure was kneeling at the edge of the mound, head bowed. Slowly, the head turned to look at me. Violet.

I stayed frozen where I was, the only thing moving was my jaw as it dropped. Slowly, I took a step forward and whispered, "Violet?"

She stood slowly and the moonlight reflected the tear streaks on her face. She walked to me, her expression blank, until she was but a foot away.

And very quickly afterwards, I found myself flat on my back with a bruise forming on my right eye. She dropped to her knees, straddling my waist and layed havoc onto my face, punching with small fists with the pain and anger of a thousand behind them. She screamed at me, insults, sometimes just random yelling, but I caught the first line. "You said you would help us! You have murdered my family!"

I halfheartedly blocked her blows. I knew that I had done it. Jalan had tricked me, but if I had not informed her of the plan, her people would not have moved. They would have lived.

I have no idea how much time had passed before she tired herself out, ceasing the rain of abuse to my face and body. But when she had, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed. "Why?" she demanded through her hands. She pulled them apart to meet my gaze, hers not filled with anger, but pain and pleading. "Why, Maru, why would you do this to us? To me? I had thought...." She broke down again, standing and moving to run. But all she did was stumble and fall to the ground. She lay where she had fallen and sobbed into the dirt.

I sat up and watched her for a moment, unsure of what to do. And then, as if another was taking control of my body, I moved to her, kneeling down beside her. She raised her head to look at me, eyes still full of pain and regret. I reached out tentatively and brushed her hair from her face. "You thought correctly," I whispered. "We were both deceived, Violet." My throat tightened and I struggled to say the words. "I...am so very sorry." I could feel tears gather in my eyes and cursed them, hoping she would not see. "There is nothing I can...say to make this all right, but I...."

She stared at me as I trailed off. I felt one of the tears course down my cheek and I raised a hand to brush it away before she saw. Faster than I could see, she had grabbed my wrist, holding it still. She lifted her free hand and wiped it gently from my face. She met my gaze again. "You said I thought correctly," she murmured, still holding my wrist. "What do you think I had thought?"

I stifled a swear. I hardly knew what I had thought, she wanted me to explain her thoughts? "I... I had only... that is... I have grown fond of hearing from you, and I had assumed that--"

"That I had felt the same?" she whispered.

I felt my face burn as I flushed, and I looked around us. "You are not safe here," I told her in a rushed whisper. "We must leave immediately."

"Where?" she demanded, suddenly businesslike again, dropping my wrist. "You say the Lord knows of our home, and what used to be our haven. Where can I possibly go?"

"You will come to the palace with me," I replied quickly. I held up a hand when she opened her mouth in fearful protest. "If I announce you as a guest and you stay in my apartment with me, no one will question my motives." The hand in the air moved against my will, and touched her face. "You would be safe there."

Her eyes darted to where my hand was, but she didn't protest. Instead she swallowed, and met my gaze seriously. "How do I know I can trust you?"

I shrugged slightly, my hand returning to the ground. "You don't, I suppose."

There was a pause, and she nodded. "All right. Let's go."