Chapter 24

The internals of the building were unusual in that there was a lot of decorative artwork in a style that was foreign to the Empire, though quite lovely from an esthetical point of view.

“You have some talented artists,” I mentioned to Terak as we waited through an interminable speech from the manager of the Corporate.

“Thank you. These are copies of the original artworks by members of the tribe forming the Corporate,” he replied.

“Very different from an Imperial perspective,” I nodded.

“Yes, that was the point. We hope, by them being different, we’ll attract more custom from those companies who sell within your Imperium.”

“I wonder why you’re not on Vreekoos?” I asked.

“We aren’t really big enough as yet, particularly if we wanted to open an outlet in your upper-level malls.”

“Ah, so you chose a major distribution hub and will sell from there to those who do have outlets on Vreekoos?”

“Yes, very cost effective as we actually make more from doing so when you factor in the cost of opening and maintaining an outlet on Vreekoos,” he explained. “Ah, at last the Princess will speak.”

“People of the Empire and honoured guests,” Amanda began. “It has given me great pleasure to be invited to open this enterprise of the Rezzon Corporate. It is a joy to view such beautiful products being made available to Imperial merchants to sell throughout the Empire. Though we have yet to meet face to face, I know my father, the Emir Grigo, fully supports trade between the Empire and the Emirate and this is the first of many ventures within the Imperium. Such ventures will, I believe, only strengthen the bonds between our Realms and lead to an ever more prosperous future. So, it is with great pleasure, that I open this outlet for Rezzon Trading and wish them nothing but goodwill and prosperity in their future.”

There was an enthusiastic, if polite, applause as Amanda stepped down to meet and greet the assembled staff, a few of whom appeared to be overwhelmed to be actually meeting her. All this I caught on canvas as it were and was able to hand over a signed sketch to the Corporate CEO. It was eventually hung in the main foyer where guests were greeted.

Afterwards, our schedule was clear, so Amanda, Trusha and Liono joined me as I headed out into the station to simply have some fun whilst I made several sketches of the much quieter scenes. It was soon obvious we were under observation from various parties, though they were extremely leery of coming any closer to us than the surrounding corridors.

“I think you may have scared them off, Liono,” Amanda commented.

“It does look that way,” Liono sniffed. “I’d have predicted they’d at least want a re-match.”

“It is a bit disappointing,” Trusha agreed. “Perhaps I’ll have better luck on the surface, tomorrow.”

“Well, Liono did promise you an outing with me,” I chuckled at their sense of priority.

“I did and my word is my bond,” Liono replied formally.

“Glad to hear it. I wouldn’t mind an outing as well,” Amanda added. “Though that will have to wait until the third or fourth day due to the itinerary I need to follow.”

“Hope you can. You attract a good few people that I can sketch,” I nodded.

“From duty to eye candy ... such is life,” Amanda giggled.

“Hello, looks like we may have misjudged the gang,” Trusha warned as more and more of them became apparent.

“Get ready for a rush. They’ve blocked all exits,” Liono warned.

“Not going to do them much good,” I chuckled.

“No, but they may get past us if there are enough of them.”

“I think they’re more after you, Liono,” Amanda giggled.

“Probably. I did rather embarrass them the last time,” she replied with a smirk.

“Get ready,” Trusha warned as Amanda and I dropped into what the Kilios bodyguards called ‘the zone’, a state of heightened awareness which protected you when fighting as you were totally focussed on it.

There was a massed rush towards Liono. Though it became very obvious that she wasn’t alone and that they faced four of us. Still, that did not slow them down until Liono and Trusha suddenly exploded into action and bodies began to go flying. Amanda and I simply protected their backs as it was obvious they didn’t need us for their ‘fun’ with the gang. Nor were the various weapons the gang produced of much help to them as the bodyguards rapidly disarmed any who produced them. The fight ended when the local chapter of the Guardians turned up in force and began stunning any and all who were fighting or trying to escape. It was amusing when they discovered that Liono and Trusha were somehow immune to stunners, but both ladies indicated that they were going to remain in place with a Guardian keeping an eye on our group.

“Barely got warmed up,” Trusha huffed.

“Told you they weren’t really worth our time,” Liono shrugged. “I suspect Dayyev and Amanda could have managed them with ease.”

“Probably. Perhaps I’ll have a bit more luck on the surface,” Trusha acknowledged as an Investigator approached.

“Right, could you show some ID’s please?” she requested brusquely. “The AIs refuse to identify you.”

“AI, identify us for the Investigator, please,” Amanda asked politely.

“Of course, Serenissimé,” the AI replied causing the Investigator to stiffen in alarm.

“Ser ... Seren ... You ... you’re the Princess Royal?” she asked, swallowing nervously.

“Yes. I’m just out incognito on a date with my boyfriend who likes to sketch things,” Amanda nodded. “These two are Royal Bodyguards, hence the damage done to the gang.”

“Ah ... that explains a few things. Please, continue with your business, Serenissimé.”

“Could I sketch you and the squad?” I asked politely.

“Of course, Ser Dayyev,” she replied with a smile then went over to start questioning the conscious gang members.

“Kill anyone, ladies?” I asked as the carbon stick flickered over the page, adding detail.

“Not worth the effort, a few broken bones perhaps and a lot of wounded pride,” Trusha replied with a happy smile.

“They were rather pitiful,” Liono added. “Definitely not worth killing.”

“Well, it will no doubt simplify the paperwork,” I chuckled as I began another sketch.

“Wonder if they learned any lessons?” Amanda mused out loud.

“Doubt it, though they’ll have a hard job recruiting anyone new for a while,” I shrugged.

“That’s true. You really trampled over their reputations as bravos, ladies,” Amanda giggled.

“Most of the lower-level gangs on Vreekoos wouldn’t have had any problems with them,” Trusha commented.

“Definitely second rate,” Liono agreed.

Eventually the gang were carted away, some to the local medical centre under guard and others to the holding cells the Guardians had in their headquarters. Amanda thanked the Investigator for her efforts and I handed over the sketches to distribute amongst themselves.

“Nice break,” Amanda commented. “Dinner, anyone?”

The rest of the group joined us for the meal at a popular eatery on the station and went over what they’d been doing and found.

“You need to speak to Orliantomin Jorulla at IHB about the Colberg Fever outbreaks,” Torric informed Amanda. “The Bureaucracy are definitely sitting on it and leaving it up to the Healers to nurse their patients through it without recourse to a higher grade nanite fix available on Vreekoos.”

“I’ll speak to him later when the time difference aligns,” Amanda replied with a nod.

“Thank you, Amanda,” Torric acknowledged to keep to informality within the restaurant.

“ImpSec are currently looking into a case of a Bureaucrat creaming off profits from some Corporates in the form of bribes for quicker access to permits,” Verlig stated. “Nothing for us to worry about though; they’ll arrest him in a few days.”

“Good. Nice to see them on top of a situation,” Amanda nodded.

“Pretty efficient bunch,” Haelee added. “Good mix of experienced and junior Monitors.”

“Good. After Parros it’s lovely to find somewhere where it’s working as it should.”

“I suspect it does in most places ... though admittedly not all,” Verlig acknowledged.

“Larre informed me everything is ready for your visit tomorrow. They’re all pretty excited about it down there,” Trusha informed Amanda,

“Looking forward to it myself,” Amanda nodded. “Got a pretty full itinerary, but nothing stressful that I can see.”

“There shouldn’t be,” Verlig replied. “I went over it pretty carefully and in a lot of cases kept it to small gatherings.”

“Mum interfering?” Amanda giggled.

“Just concerned, Amanda,” Verlig smiled. “I think she got a little worried about you after Parros.”

“I’ll be fine, but it’s appreciated.”

“We’ll do our best for you, all of us.”

“I know. Thank you all.”

The following morning, by station time, not Imperial time, we set off in a shuttle down to the main starport on Lexgis. It was set close to, but not actually in, the capital city, Lorrus. The welcome was, as ever, enjoyable, if tumultuous, and we were eventually whisked away to the Governor’s residence to prepare for the rest of the visit.

“No reception?” Amanda asked out loud.

“Not this evening,” Verlig replied. “They’re combining it with the settlement celebration in three planetary days’ time. There’s just a family-style meal with Hisuat Wenci and her husband and family tonight.”

“Settlement celebration?” I enquired.

“They celebrate the first landing of the colonist shuttles every stellar rotation of the planet,” Verlig explained.

“Oh, like Empire Day?”

“No. It’s more of a family-based celebration with all subjects having a simple meal and celebrating the planet’s colonisation. I’m told at the reception there will be a good few ordinary subjects attending, chosen at random by the AI, and it will be held in the grounds.”

“Interesting. I look forward to it,” Amanda acknowledged thoughtfully.

“It’s interesting that they have a settlement celebration. It’s the first time I’ve heard of a planet having one,” I mused.

“Lexgis was not originally an Imperial world, but part of what was then the Nihoni Alliance which were absorbed into the Empire when the Empire expanded around them,” the AI explained.

“Ah, a tradition older than the Empire, very interesting.”

“It waxes and wanes in popularity over the centuries, but currently is back in vogue.”

“I look forward to getting it down on paper.”

“I take it there are no other changes to the itinerary?” Amanda enquired.

“No, Serenissimé,” Verlig replied. “Highlight should be a visit to the Taranis Canyon which was the deepest in the Empire and has its own unique ecosystem.”

“Was?” Torric queried.

“Apparently the planet Carrok in Stellar area Eight has a deeper one, though as a terraformed world, it does not have a matching ecosystem.”

“Wonder if they’d like to transplant some of the Taranis ecosystem?” Torric mused.

“I suspect, as a fairly newly settled world, they have bigger issues,” Amanda chuckled.