Chapter 10

The first meeting of our new investigating group took place several hundred rotations later, after a hypersonic flyer flight to central Vreekoos. Some of those we were meeting I knew; Haelee and the bodyguards, for example, who had travelled with us, others, like Torric and Verlig, were unfamiliar to me, though were clearly pleased to be on the team.

“I’m pleased to welcome you to my personal staff,” Amanda began. “I realise there may be additional ‘duties’ when we’re on an official visit, but this meeting is simply to get to know each other and go over various skillsets we may have. So, please introduce yourselves. Dayyev, could you begin?”

“Of course, Serenissimé,” I replied, keeping it formal for now. “I’m Dayyev, Amanda’s boyfriend. I’m an artist with specialised Troubleshooting skills in disguise and observation.”

“Trusha, personal bodyguard to Her Serenissimé, speciality skills: defence, attack, hacking, illicit entry and suspect tracing.”

“Liono, personal bodyguard to Dayyev, same skillset as Trusha, but also specialising in information gathering.”

“Sakla, bodyguard, same skillsets as Trusha and Liono, though specialise in infiltration and threat neutralisation.”

“Torric, Healer, specialised in interrogation.”

“Verlig, Retainer, specialised in high level corporate information gathering and other Realm diplomacy.”

“Haelee, Retainer, unspecialised as yet, but will be understudying Verlig initially.”

“Thank you all,” Amanda nodded. “The AIs will have supplied you with a copy of my initial itinerary, though it might be subject to change depending on circumstances. Our job is not to cause issues, particularly if we are outside the Empire. However, if there is something ImpSec wants ‘unofficially’ looked at, they’ll send us in.”

“On the grounds that anyone looking for trouble will not suspect a Royal visit providing it,” I chuckled, getting smiles off all except the bodyguards.

“So, background work only, initially?” Verlig asked.

“Yes, though you have the skillsets amongst you for direct action if necessary,” Amanda answered, adding, “The bodyguards will also ensure you are ... unmolested whilst carrying out any investigations. Their word on a security situation should be regarded as absolute however.”

“Yes, Serenissimé,” we all but the bodyguards replied.

“Dayyev will likely have the most issues when working a lower level or underclass. I will, however, ensure he is safe and will ensure that he is unidentified in any issue of concern,” Liono continued.

“I suspect that will be mostly from minor criminals, not the big fish we are really after?” Haelee asked.

“Most likely, however his missions within the Empire are to do with ‘judging the mood’ and corruption levels as the lower levels tend to be affected most,” Amanda confirmed. “Outside the Empire it will be to trace any clues we pick up and see what the locals know, something he’s quite accomplished at.”

“People just like to talk to me,” I shrugged.

“I may need to accompany you, Dayyev,” Torric replied. “Particularly if we need a ... less aggressive interrogation performed.”

“We most likely will,” I agreed. “It’s not my intention to leave a trail of bodies behind me as it might warn whomever we’re after.”

“Besides, trails of bodies is my speciality,” Liono added with a dry chuckle, making the others smile, including Trusha and Sakla.

“Where required you’ll all be expected to pitch in with any given task, if necessary, including myself,” Amanda confirmed, causing Haelee, Torric and Verlig to frown. “Trust me, I’m more than capable,” she informed them.

“This is true,” Trusha confirmed. “That said, her other duties will probably keep her from getting fully involved.”

“More’s the pity,” Amanda chuckled.

“Which is why we bodyguards will occasionally switch out so as not to become bored by official duties,” Trusha added with a glance and a smile at Amanda.

“Far be it for us to spoil your fun,” Haelee giggled.

“You’ll all be expected to wear holo-disguises when attending any official or public engagement with me,” Amanda informed them. “Other than that, how you go about your other tasks is up to you, however I will want to know in rough detail what it is you’re doing.”

“Yes, Serenissimé.”

“First visit will be in a binary cycle to Radiance, followed by Trevaglion. They are known as Imperial loyalists, so consider them test runs for information gathering, as well as putting the protocols into practice,” Amanda informed us. “Please go over the details during the interim period. Any questions I’ll answer as best I can, though both Dayyev and I have our final qual exams.”

“Best of luck,” Torric acknowledged with a friendly smile.

“We’ll be OK and probably do well, though we both have jobs to look forward to anyway,” I chuckled.

“True,” Haelee giggled. “I was the same with the Retainer role, as I’d been promised the job before my exams.”

“Oh, how the other half lives,” Torric added, joining in the mirth.

“True,” Amanda commented with a smile. “But I’ve been trained and groomed for this role since I was three and still expected to pass the exams as well.”

“Well, I don’t envy you,” Haelee nodded.

“Good, though you may occasionally have to fill in for me, if I ever need to get involved in a clandestine mission. So, the AIs will give you an info pack on my mannerisms and habits.”

“Yes, Her Serenissima informed me of that as well. It shouldn’t be an issue so long as it isn’t decision making or treaty approval and signing,” Haelee nodded.

“Get used to walkarounds,” I chuckled, making the others smile.

“It won’t be that often, just cases where we might need the three bodyguards and I have to travel with them,” Amanda added. “Other than that, Mum would go mental if she thought I was slacking off to have fun.”

“Understood,” Haelee nodded.

“I suspect that there will be fun and it will be enjoyable ... for the most part,” Verlig agreed.

“Yes, we are not ImpSec or professional Troubleshooters,” Amanda nodded. “We, for the most part will be working under the radar, using a Royal visit to cover for our activities and presence.”

“Though we will be able to go where ImpSec would not be officially welcome,” Liono added.

“True, so go over the information details and discuss where your roles will complement each other over a variety of tasks. Now, Dayyev and I need to go study but can be contacted if necessary.”

“Serenissimé,” they replied as all rose and, except for the bodyguards, gave her the half-bow as Amanda and I withdrew to another room and a date with our AI tutors.

Three days later Amanda and I were sipping cold drinks at Mamma Vasu’s having taken and passed our exams and been granted the status of ‘adult’ in the Empire. This was one of the many things that my Dad found weird about the Empire, though both Amanda and I just accepted it as the norm. Adulthood in the Empire was not based on age or a birthday, but on the taking of your final quals and getting the results. Passing granted certain rights as well as responsibilities within Imperial society and made us totally responsible for our own actions and words. Pre-adults had far fewer responsibilities and rights, though were protected by the Empire in so far as they could not be held fully responsible for their actions (though could be prosecuted for crimes) and could not be subject to a duel for any accusation that met the criteria for issuing one. Not that we expected ever to be called to fight one, just that we could and would be expected to defend our honour should such an occasion arise.

“Glad that’s over,” I said as we simply enjoyed sitting, if watched by Liono, in the hustle and bustle of the lower-level market where no one would normally expect to find Amanda and so she could be herself.

“Yes, we both did as well if not better than expected,” she nodded.

“I still think it’s cheating,” Liono observed.

“Not really,” I chuckled. “The normal quals for everyone else concentrates on the knowledge gained. Our quals concentrate on how the knowledge is applied.”

“So ... it’s different for you?”

“Yep, they get tested on what they remember. We get tested on how we apply the knowledge to a given situation,” Amanda replied.

“I see. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be disparaging.”

“No problem, now you know,” I chuckled.

“I do, I appear to have been labouring under a misconception,” she nodded. “So, it is possible to fail these quals, even for neural learning?”

“Oh, most definitely,” Amanda replied. “Pointless having the knowledge if you don’t know how to use it or apply it.”

“Bit like having read a tract on self-defence, it won’t help you much if you don’t practice,” I added.

“Yes, I see,” she nodded.

“Ah, spotted Haelee,” Amanda informed us, bringing us back to the present and our reason for being there.

“Browsing the equipment shop,” I said.

“You saw her too?”

“Along with Verlig and Torric, though they aren’t with her. Haven’t spotted Trusha or Sakla yet, but no surprise there,” I chuckled.

“Sakla is here, though even I’m having some difficulty spotting Trusha,” Liono admitted.

“Yep, found Torric,” Amanda smiled. “Checking the medical centre health board.”

“Yep,” I agreed.

“Can’t see Verlig yet and I’ll probably only spot Trusha and Sakla once they sit down next to us,” Amanda grinned.

“Most likely,” Liono nodded. “Though Sakla is now coming towards us.”

Despite the warning, I didn’t spot Sakla until he was within a pacemark of me and probably wouldn’t have spotted him then if I hadn’t been warned. Haelee and Torric were also approaching, though Verlig was still waiting for Amanda to spot him ... as probably Trusha was for Liono.

“Found Trusha, damn that woman is sneaky,” Liono finally announced.

“Where?” I asked out of curiosity, though doubted I’d spot her.

“Assisting Mamma cook,” Liono chuckled.

I glanced around but still couldn’t see her, though did notice someone behind Mamma who kept her face out of sight.

“I assume it’s the person behind Mamma?” I asked.

“Yes, I only caught a glance as she’s using Mamma’s security mirror to observe us.”

“Well spotted, Liono,” Mamma chuckled as she and Trusha approached with our snacks.

“Luck, I think, it was your movement that exposed her for a micro-rotation.”

“Correct,” Trusha confirmed. “Thank you, Mamma.”

“Happy to help,” Mamma replied then went back to work.

“Got Verlig,” Amanda piped up. “Moving through the yeast processor stands.”

“Yes, that’s everyone,” Liono confirmed. “You all did well, though professionals would have had you marked a lot quicker as you kept looking this way a bit too obviously,” she said to Haelee, Torric and Verlig.

“I realised that,” Verlig nodded. “Though I’m unused to such crowds and couldn’t anticipate their actions too well.”

“That’s why we’re down here,” Trusha nodded. “Nice takedown of that sneak thief, Haelee.”

“He needs a lot more practice. I can’t imagine that his gang handler will be too pleased, though he is still alive, as per orders,” Haelee answered with a smile and a shrug.

“That’ll probably be Carras, who answers to Tokko, their enforcer. She’s already aware that Amanda and I are here so he’ll likely just get told to practice more and try not to be so bloody obvious,” I chuckled.

I was correct. A couple of rotations later Tokko approached with Carras and a still dazed looking young man who, I assume, was the thief.

“Thanks for letting him live,” she acknowledged to Haelee.

“He needs to make his hand movements much less obvious,” Haelee replied with a polite nod.

“Yes, I’ve warned him about that a few times. Hopefully your lesson will really enforce that with him,” Carras chuckled. “Nice of you to allow us to practice as well.”

“No problem. When he’s good enough, let Vilgra know via David at the medical centre as she has a need for that skillset over in Bamage Block as they know your regulars,” I nodded.

“A binary cycle at least,” Tokko replied.

“There’s no hurry, the mark is staying under cover and can’t be approached easily by the Guardians or ImpSec as he has diplomatic immunity on his carrier pouches,” Verlig replied.

“We’ll get him ready,” Tokko nodded. “He won’t fail.”

“Thank you.”

We went through several other exercises that day as we attempted to get our other ‘irregulars’ used to operating in a lower level environment. None of them had much, if any, experience with it and that was where I, at least, expected to pick up any info on tensions caused by the upper echelons of the Imperial bureaucracy. For all the various levels in the Empire rarely mixed, certain elements in each level were aware to an extent of what was going on. Some were official, like the Guardian types or voluntary Healers, others unofficial but with channels, such as the gangs and entertainment centres. This made picking up info easy enough if you knew how to ask and what to ask. Want to know where the Empress was? Forget it. Want to know which Noble, Corporate or Bureaucracy is shorting on maintenance or up to their ears in a scandal, they’ll tell you quickly and in detail.