Reevah Tam frowned in annoyance as her pad began to beep incessantly, interrupting her while she was trying to finish up a report.

With a sigh, she retrieved it from the drawer of her desk and peered at the screen. The ID wasn’t one she immediately recognized, but the call’s origin was interesting. Whoever was trying to call her was doing so from Vasha Zakrov’s flagship hotel.

Which wasn’t enough to cure her annoyance at being interrupted, but her interest was sufficiently piqued that she couldn’t ignore the call.

“Reevah here.” She answered automatically.

“Hello cousin.” The face on the other end greeted. “I’m wondering if you could help me with something.”

Reevah blinked in surprise. She didn’t immediately recognize the woman on the screen of her data pad. The fact that she referred to Reevah as “cousin” meant that she was a fellow Hoplite, and likely a Tam at that. The woman’s voice carried an electronic undertone, which meant that she likely had an artificial larynx. That, combined with the startling number of braids the woman’s hair was woven into, pointed to her likely being a Jotunn.

Which narrowed the list of likely candidates down considerably. Reevah recalled a woman who was a few years ahead of herself in the academy and was adamantly attached to her Jotunn heritage. Unfortunately she couldn’t seem to remember her name.

“What can I do for you?” Reevah asked plainly.

“I’m sure you don’t remember me.” The woman said. “My name is Rixie.”

Reevah nodded. Magister-Imperator Rixie, retired. She recalled the woman clearly now. Rixie had been very talented, if a little short on proper military discipline. Reevah was not surprised she’d been switched into the Imperator Corps. They tended to be a little more fast and loose than the rest of the military.

“I remember you, Magister-Imperator.” Reevah answered. “What can I do for you?”

Rixie bit her lip, seeming to consider her next words carefully. “I’m aware that one of the roommates for Princess Rhionne is Daz Zakrov, who was recently betrothed to the Princess and the younger sister of Vasha Zakrov.

Reevah’s eyes narrowed. “The betrothal is not supposed to be common knowledge.”

Rixie shrugged. “You know how it is, Reevah. I have my sources.”

Reevah frowned, but didn’t belabor the point. “Very well. I will confirm that yes Rhionne is currently living with Daz Zakrov. What business is that of yours?”

Rixie smiled. “None, really. I don’t have any particular interest in Daz. It’s Vasha I’m concerned with.”

Reevah’s head cocked interestedly.

“I have reason to believe that Lady Zakrov is currently engaged in a host of illegal activities.” Rixie explained. “Possibly in conjunction with Lady Fand.”

“What sort of crimes?” Reevah asked.

Rixie sighed. “Cruelty to class two sentients, trafficking of illegal goods, larceny, murder and quite likely high treason.”

Reevah frowned. “That’s a pretty hefty accusation, Rixie, especially against two sitting heads of the seventy nine families. Do you have any evidence?”

“Hard evidence? No. All I have is a little more than a hunch. Circumstantial.”

Reevah nodded. “You’re hoping you can turn Daz.”

No.” Rixie shook her head. “I’m hoping you can turn Daz.”

Reevah sighed in annoyance. “Do you have anything other than a hunch that Daz’s sister is doing anything illegal?”

Rixie winced. “Well, it’s not much but…” Reevah’s pad beeped, indicating a file download was waiting for her. Curiously, she opened the file and watched the video clip of two men fighting in a pit of sand. She was dispassionate, at first, as she watched the two men strike mercilessly at one another, until a stray thought entered her brain that she wasn’t looking at a hologram, or even a pair of Titans… she was watching a couple of humans beating each other near to death.

And then the implications of that hit home.

Still, she had to be sure. “What am I looking at?”

“Vasha claims it’s a holographic recreation. An act. I know for a fact this isn’t the case. You are looking at two humans being forced to fight one another for the amusement of Vasha and her cronies.

“How do you know?”

“I spoke to the human himself.”

Reevah’s eyes widened slightly. “You have a witness?”

Rixie’s eyebrow quirked. “You think anybody would believe a human?”

“There are some who would.” Reevah answered.

Rixie was silent for a moment as she digested that information. “Unfortunately no. I… the human in that video elected to remain behind, rather than accept my assistance. Don’t bother asking why he would do that.” Rixie continued to forestall the question she could see Reevah about to ask. “I don’t really understand it myself.”

Reevah decided not to press the issue. “So what do you need from Daz?” She asked instead.

“I need… I need Vasha’s weak point. Her type always has one. They’re careful, but they’re arrogant. She fancies herself a master manipulator, which means she has a treasure trove somewhere. Files, data, recorded conversations, anything she might someday need in order to get one over on a current ally or an enemy. If I can get ahold of that, I’m hoping there will be something in it that I can use to nail her.”

“…Nail…?”

“Never mind.” Rixie waved the question away impatiently. “I need you to get Daz to give me anything that might help me find her sister’s data cache.”

“If she has one.” Reevah replied.

“She has one.” Rixie nodded. “It fits her psych profile. Now, bottom line, will you help me?”

Reevah had a sinking feeling in her gut, but she knew that Rixie Tam was a good, and trusted, officer. She wouldn’t put herself this far out on a limb unless she had a good reason too.

“I will speak with Daz.” Reevah conceded, after a brief pause. “And try to convince her to help you.”

“Thank you, Cousin.” Rixie said with a relieved smile. “That’s the best I can ask of you.”

“Good bye, Rixie.”

“Good luck, Reevah.”

*.*.*.*

Alex set a glass of purple liquid in front of Shaar and turned towards Myona’s holographic form. “I want to thank you both for everything you’ve done for me here.”

Shaar peered into the glass in front of her suspiciously.

“Aw no problem Alex!” Myona chirped. “I’m glad we could help you and Lady Tarsuss. It was amazing getting a chance to visit Avalon and I’d never turn down a free trip.”

“It’s grape juice Shaar, try it.” Alex said, before turning back to Myona. “So you said you had other ideas for Pryvani’s compound. What did you have in mind?”

“Oh I don’t know.” Myona shrugged. “I’ve just been looking over the specifications of this hard-light development. It’s very exciting stuff! Imagine, a hologram that can actually interact properly with solid three-dimensional objects.”

“Yeah it’s kind of a trip.” Alex admitted.

“So these hard light holograms…” Shaar interjected, wiping purple juice from her mouth. “They can pick things up?”

“Uh huh!” Myona answered. “Just like real, solid things.”

“So what’s to stop a hologram from holding its own projector?”

“Well, that…” Myona’s sentence petered off and she paused, uncertainly. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed as she seemed to ponder the notion.

Then, her eyes grew really large and she let out a startled gasp.

“Ab…absolutely nothing…” Myona muttered, shocked. “Oh sure, there’d be some technical issues to work out… such a program would create a lot of feedback on the processor but… with solid light technology being so new… I can’t believe no one’s ever thought to…”

“You know, eventually she’s going to finish a sentence.” Alex muttered to Shaar wryly as he wiped down the bar top in front of him.

“I’ve never seen her speechless before.” Shaar said, as an amused snort escaped her throat.

“Shaar… you’re absolutely brilliant.” Myona said. “Quick! Alex, hand me a piece of paper and something to write with, I need to make a note!”

“Uh, but…”

“Please!”

“Okay, okay…” Alex grabbed a scrap of paper and a pen from behind his bar and placed it in front of the holographic avatar.

Myona practically bounced from excitement as she reached for the pen… only to have her hand pass right through the object.

Myona blinked, staring at the palm of her own hand.

“…Oh, yeah…”

*.*.*.*

“We need to have a chat about your sister.”

Reevah watched the expression on Daz’s face. The young woman’s expression went from confusion to a barely concealed terror.

“Wh-what about her?” Daz asked, fidgeting uncomfortably in her chair. “Is she okay?”

“Hardly.” Reevah quipped and raised her pad so that Daz could see the screen. “How much do you know about this?” The hoplite woman asked.

Daz’s eyes narrowed as she watched the video clip playing on Reevah’s data pad. “I-I don’t… what is this?”

“Well, if what a Magister-Imperator told me is accurate, this is footage of two humans being forced to fight each other for your sister’s benefit. So, I repeat, how much do you know about it?”

Daz’s eyes widened and she jumped out of her chair as if it had suddenly burst into flames. “What?! No that… that can’t… Reevah, I know my sister is a terrible person but this…?! This… this is…”

“Sit down Daz.” Reevah commanded calmly. “Take a breath.”

Visibly shaken, Daz lowered back into her seat and tried to compose herself. She wasn’t doing a very good job.

“Daz… here’s what we know.” Reevah continued calmly. “For whatever reason, your sister maintains a stable of humans and forces them to fight each other. It’s likely people bet on the outcome.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Daz asked in a small voice. “Why not just… go arrest her.”

Reevah sighed. “We don’t have any concrete proof. This small video is all we have, and it’s not enough to charge your sister with anything, let alone convict her.”

Daz was silent for a long time. She sat with her head in her hands, staring at the floor while Reevah waited patiently.

“You realize what you’re asking me to do, don’t you?” Daz said finally, looking up.

“Yes.” Reevah responded placidly. “I’m asking you to turn your sister in for a crime.”

“How can you just say it like that?!” Daz exploded, jumping to her feet. “You’re asking me to turn on my own sister! My family! That’s something I…I can’t do! You don’t turn on family.”

Something about the way Daz said that last sentence pricked in Reevah’s brain. Daz’s voice took on a different tone. It sounded less like a statement and more like a mantra.

“Is that what they taught you, growing up?”

“Yes!” Daz snapped angrily. “Family is everything. Family is the most important thing in your life.”

“Daz listen to yourself.” Reevah replied. “Something tells me you weren’t told that because your parents thought it was important to be together during the holidays. You were told that to make sure you stayed quiet!”

“But…!”

“Tell me something, Daz.” Reevah asked archly. “Have your family ever repaid the loyalty they’ve instilled in you? You were ostracized for joining the piloting program. Your sister sees nothing wrong in using you as a tool to gain political influence for herself. And unless they can somehow use you, your family seems content to ignore you.”

Daz’s mouth opened and she bit her lip, brow furrowing in confusion.

Reevah shook her head. “If your sister could arrange for you to take the blame for everything illegal she’s ever done, do you think she would?”

Daz swallowed and screwed her eyes shut. A single tear squeezed out from under her eyelid and went rolling down her face, but she nodded.

“Yes. She would.”

“Take it from an orphan, Daz.” Reevah sighed. “Family doesn’t have to mean blood.”

“They’ll hate me.” Daz mumbled.

“Who? Your sister?”

Daz shook her head sorrowfully. “No.” She pointed to her bedside table where Pierce’s small bed sat next to her lamp and her clock. “Them.”

Reevah nodded. “They might. I can’t guarantee they won’t, but now you have to ask yourself if your own happiness, your own security, is worth more than dozens of human lives.”

“You’re right. It isn’t. I’ll tell you what you need to know.” Daz sighed and sat down in her chair again. “Keep in mind that I’m not exactly in my sister’s inner circle of confidants. I’m told exactly what Vasha wants me to know and nothing more. I’m not trusted with anything that could potentially come back on her.

“However… I do know that Vasha has a small data drive that she wears on a chain around her neck.” Daz bit her lip and stared at her shoes. “There might not be anything important on it, or anything you can use to prove what she’s done. But if I had important information that could send me to a penal colony for a very long time, that’s probably where I would keep it.”

Reevah nodded. “Good. Thank you Daz.”

Daz laughed bitterly. “The ironic thing is I actually do feel a bit better.”

Reevah stood and started to leave them room, but she paused and placed a hesitant hand on Daz’s shoulder. “I will say this: having tried to stop your sister from committing the crimes she has will go a lot further with Rhionne than having kept the information to yourself. I don’t know if she, or Pierce, will be angry or not. But you’ve done the right thing.”

“I know.” Daz wiped her face against her shoulder. “I was alone before, so if they decide never to see me again, I won’t be any worse off.”