Renna opened the office door with her access pass. Only the familiarity of the cleaning routine allowed her to complete it successfully. Her mind and body were both on autopilot as she entered Lady Fand’s office and began the dusting. Dimly, she was aware of movement within the glass terrarium that Sam lived in, but she couldn’t seem to muster the energy.

“Renna?” Sam called out. “Renna are you okay?”

Renna sighed and set down her dusting rag. “I’m sorry Sam, I’m just a little ragged today. Have a lot on my mind. I didn’t mean to be rude.” The young cleaner smiled softly ad bent down so she could look into the enclosure.

Sam sighed and shrugged. “Oh that’s all right.” He was pretty sure he knew what was going on with her, but he knew he couldn’t come right out and ask, not just then anyway. “Is everything all right?”

Renna nodded. “Yeah. Everything is fine.”

“I don’t think you’re telling me the truth, Renna.”

The Titaness’ eyes widened and her mouth fell open. “Well…”

Sam pressed on. “I think something has you very upset, but you don’t want to think about it.”

“It’s nothing.” Renna assured him. “Nothing you need to worry about anyway.”

Sam’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her billboard sized face. “It’s your money problems, isn’t it?”

There was a long pause, during which Renna attempted to find some way of providing a non-answer to that question. Sam waited patiently, watching her bite her lip in concentration with wry amusement. Finally, Renna gave up.

“Yeah.” The glass between them fogged from her sudden exhalation. “More money problems.”

Sam hesitated, and then nodded resolutely. “I could help.”

Renna blinked. “How?”

Sam scratched the back of his head. “You know in the casinos how they have humans competing against each other?”

Renna nodded. “The races, or whatever they are.”

“…right. The races.” Sam bit his tongue. She’d never agree to this if she knew the truth. “Anyway, I compete in them. You could bet on me.”

Renna sighed. “That’s very sweet of you, Sam, but I couldn’t put that on you. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“Please.” Sam shook his head. “I can do this. I want to help you.”

He locked eyes with the giant woman, until finally she relented and looked away. “All right.” The young woman sighed. “I’ll look for your name in the casino.”

“Isamu. They probably have me down as Isamu. Not Sam.”

“Okay.” Renna nodded. “Isamu.”

*.*.*

“…and so Ms. Tarsuss’s flighty personality has not helped?” Yvenna Mirendy said, not bothering to look back at her witness.

“Not at all. An air-headed playgirl is the last person who should be running a corporation of this size.”

“I challenge, m’lord,” Hurassen said, wearily. “And also remind counsel that my client is Senator Tarsuss, or Lady Tarsuss.”

“Your challenge is accepted. The witness will confine himself to facts,” Sesa Genapu said. “And counsel will refer to the defendant by her proper title. Ms. Mirendy, I advise you, keep control of your witnesses. This doesn’t impress me.”

“Yes, m’lord,” she said, turning back to the witness. “Mr. Bansuse, is there any material damage from Sen. Tarsuss’s conduct?”

“Well, the Tarsuss Corporation has dropped in the Prosperity ratings of most respected brands. It used to have a Prosperity rating of 143.2, prior to the death of Chyuri Tarsuss. Today, it’s 122.9. And that’s understandable, as Sen. Tarsuss appears to be an absentee most of the time, focused on her project on Avalon.”

“Her project on Avalon?” Yvenna said, innocently.

“Yes. She’s diverted significant resources, both personal and corporate to support the Tarsuss compound on Avalon. Now, this has long been a resource-suck and tax writeoff, and nobody expects the Tarsuss Corporation to abandon the family retreat, but still, expenditures are triple what they were under her father, and Sen. Tarsuss spends as much time there as in New Trantor or Tuaut.”

“And this keeps her from actively working with the corporation?”

“Yes it does,” Farian Bansuse concluded.

“Thank you. Your witness, councilor.”

Hurassen smiled, and rose. “Mr. Bansuse, you said brand respect of the Tarsuss Corporation has dropped. How has this affected its ranking? Was it number six before and twenty-eight now?”

“Um…no. Its overall ranking has not changed.”

“And what is that ranking?”

“Well…it’s at the top. But…”

“Indeed, Grelau Greengrocers the second-rated company, has dropped almost as much as the Tarsuss Corporation, hasn’t it?”

“It has, but still, the trendlines are clear.”

“Perhaps,” Hurassen said. “But how relevant is this? Isn’t it true that over the last three hundred years, there’s no correlation between how respected a brand is and how profitable it is?”

“That’s true, but….”

“Yes or no, Mr. Bansuse.”

“Yes.”

“Right. When Chyuri Tarsuss died, the Tarsuss Corporation was valued at Ϫ142.5 Trillion. Isn’t that correct?”

“Correct.”

“And today, what’s its value?”

Bansuse sighed. “Ϫ 163.4 Trillion. But….”

“So in a bit over six years, Pryvani Tarsuss has increased the value of the Tarsuss Corporation by almost fifteen percent, over twenty trillion, and yet she’s doing damage to the company?”

“The growth could have been greater, had she been more engaged. The Gateway Project, for example – she has yet to monetize it to any degree.”

“Ah, yes. A potential new way of transiting space, one that will speed things up – but one that carries risks to the Empire. The Tarsuss Corporation filed a report with the Securities Investigation Organization stating that it would hold off development until security concerns could be reduced. Are you suggesting Sen. Tarsuss should have put profit over her loyalty to the Emperor?”

“Of course not, but still, her spending on Avalon….”

“Avalon is the most valuable non-corporate asset owned by the Tarsuss Corporation. Are you suggesting neglecting it would be more sensible?”

“…no,” Bansuse said.

“No further questions, your honor. Ms. Mirendy may redirect.”

Hurassen sat down and shook his head. Bansuse was the fifth business analyst Yvenna had called, and his questions on cross examination had been essentially the same each time. Quite simply, there wasn’t any strong evidence that Pryvani was incompetent, primarily because she wasn’t. He jotted a note on his pad, and listened to Mirendy try to undo the damage. He had to believe they were waiting to spring their trap. Their case couldn’t possibly be this weak.

* * *

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Pryvani said, staring at the memo that Hurassen had just received. “They’ve subpoenaed my cousin?”

“Nope, not kidding. Just added to their list today. Any idea what he’d be testifying about?”

“None,” Pryvani said. “I’ve barely talked to Larinius since my father’s funeral. Barely talked to him before then. We share a great-grandparent, my great-grandmother Marwa. That’s it. Why would he be helping Syon?”

“Well, I’m wondering if it has something to do with the other witness they’ve added. Dr. Cytag.”

“Tusiu Cytag? The genealogist?”

“That’s her.”

Pryvani frowned. “Do you think Syon means to help Larinius make a claim on the company?”

“I don’t know how she could. Marwa Tarsuss was very clear that the company, senatorial seat, and family title all passed to your grandfather Erisego. There’s no question of that, and it cleared probate.”

“And it wouldn’t matter; Syon wouldn’t help Larinius get control of the company, not unless she could win it for herself. And that would require her to be in the line of succession….” Pryvani gasped and grabbed her pad. “Cytag did work for the Fand Family and the Tarsuss Family. There’s no question, our families crossed. I wonder…..”

She looked intently, and shook her head. “This could be the link.”

She flipped the pad around, and presented it to Hurassen. He looked down at the entry – the family of Merophy Tarsuss and Mbeus Salan. Their son, Taneoron Tarsuss, continued the Tarsuss line that led, twelve generations later, to Pryvani. Their daughter, Ilusa, married Vivmo Fand, and ten generations later, that line gave birth to Syon.

“So your parents were tenth cousins?” Hurassen said.

“Everyone’s parents were tenth cousins, or thereabouts. But that’s the split between the line that led to Syon and the line that led to my father.”

Hurassen nodded. “We’ll look at the documents. More than that, though, I’m worried that Mirendy’s case hasn’t been stronger.”

“I’m wondering that myself. I assume there’s something more there. Something else for them to hang their hat on. They keep coming back to Avalon…” Pryvani bit her lip in thought.

“Is there anything there that could hurt you?” Hurassen asked.

“Attorney-client privilege is in full effect?”

“Always.”

“Well, Trell Pria died during a fight with me. I wasn’t the killer – that was a very brave human named Zhan.”

Hurassen’s eyebrows shot up. “That…could be a problem. Do they know?”

“Since my mother sent Trell there to destroy Avalon? Yes. They know. I’m not sure how they introduce it without incriminating themselves, though. I have enough proof to know it to be true; there is not enough to prosecute. Yet.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” Hurassen said. “Anything else?”

“Yes,” Pryvani said. “I’m romantically involved with that human named Zhan.”

*.*.*

It took all of Rixie’s skill as an undercover operative not to eviscerate Vasha Zakrov the moment she laid eyes on her.

The former Imperator took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. Getting caught out at this stage wouldn’t do anybody any good, and Vanser would have her hide if she blew this cover identity.

She was, once again, in Vasha’s private reception hall. As a high roller, Tannith Ley had of course warranted an invitation to the gathering. Music was blaring, and Rixie was doing her best to keep up her charade as the aloof fashion designer. She was grateful to have that particular characterization; it gave her an excuse not to be too social.

Rixie’s jaw clenched as Vasha, playing the part of the dutiful hostess, sauntered her way over to where the disguised Rixie was standing.

“Well, Tannith Ley, come out from hiding have you? I didn’t realize the stars had aligned just-so.”

Rixie smiled tightly. “Well, I had business that needed to be attended to, personally.” The Imperator spoke softly, with the slightest accent, hoping that between that and the music the electronic undertone of her voice wouldn’t be detected.

Vasha grinned. “Of course, duty calls and all that. Still, as always I am absolutely delighted that you’ve chosen to stay in our little inn.”

Rixie smiled instead of rolling her eyes at the false modesty. “Hardly an inn, Vasha. I hear you’re getting ready to expand again.”

“Oh you’ve heard about that?” Vasha giggled. “Just some tinkering my partner and I are doing over maybe adding a new concert hall.”

Rixie nodded. She was about to reply when suddenly the box like structure, which Rixie knew housed a horrible arena, suddenly flared to life, projecting a hologram above the black glass roof.

“What is this?” Rixie asked curiously. “Has human combat been made legal since I was away?”

“Oh my no!” Vasha let loose a tinkly laugh. “Such a horrid thought. No, this is merely a simulation. All holograms.”

“I see.”

“But, we do use real humans as the models for the projections.” Vasha continued, as Rixie forced herself to watch the disturbing display.

“Really? I was wondering about that one there. I don’t believe I’ve seen the like of his… breed… before.”

“Oh him.” Vasha nodded. “A fine specimen, that one. First generation Earth stock. Very rare.”

“I was under the impression that was illegal?”

“It is. Apparently he was the victim of smuggling. Of course they couldn’t send the poor dears home, so my partner adopted him.”

“So he is not yours?”

“No, but she’s away on business. If you’d like to get a closer look at him, I could arrange it.”

Rixie smiled, fully willing to seize on an opportunity that presented itself. “I would like that very much.”

*.*.*

Pryvani awoke to the sound of her pad chirping, indicating that someone was trying to get ahold of her. She sat up in bed, being careful not to dislodge Zhan from the pillow they’d been sharing. She darted across the room and took a glance in the mirror. The heiress ran a brush quickly through her hair until it was moderately presentable, then sat in a chair to answer the call.

The face that appeared on the screen wasn’t familiar. Pryvani found herself gazing at a young woman, with dark skin and long silvery hair. Her magenta eyes carried both amusement and solemnity at seeing Pryvani.

“Hello.” Pryvani’s brow creased. “Can I help you? How did you get this number?”

“I stole it off of Rixie’s pad.” The young woman smirked. “My name is Zhalem Ro.”

Pryvani’s eyes narrowed. The young woman before her was a hoplite. “Are you a friend of Rixie’s then?” The heiress asked guardedly.

“One of her oldest.” Zhalem grinned. “And that’s why I’m calling you, Senator Tarsuss-”

“Pryvani, please.”

“Pryvani.” Zhalem acknowledged. “I’m worried about Rixie. Something has her off kilter. She’s… I don’t know, but something isn’t right.”

Pryvani sighed and nodded. “I’d be surprised if she wasn’t, quite frankly. Someone very close to her was hurt very badly recently.”

Zhalem’s eyebrow quirked. “Is this about that human she claims to love?”

Pryvani bit her tongue. Now wasn’t the time to get into that particular jar of fruit. “Yes, him. Miss Ro-”

“Zhalem.”

“Zhalem, Tell me she isn’t on some revenge spree, and getting herself into trouble?”

The hoplite shrugged. “Yes and no. She has gone after the woman who did this- but you can’t possibly be surprised about that- However, she hasn’t gotten violent… yet.”

Pryvani shook her head regretfully. “I’d hope she’d avoid that. Nevertheless, we’re straying from the reason you called.”

“Right.” Zhalem nodded. “I was hoping you’d know of some way to… I don’t know… get her back on track, help her clear her head?”

Pryvani’s fingers idly tapped against her knee as she thought. “I think I might have an idea. It was something I’d been hoping to accomplish anyway, perhaps now is the time to move that particular project into place.”

Zhalem blinked. “What?”

“Never mind.” Pryvani chuckled. “Just leave everything to me.”

The two ladies bid each other goodbye. After closing the communication channel, Pryvani stared at her reflection in the blanked screen for a moment. After a brief pause, she powered up the pad again and dialed into a number she’d saved for just such an occasion.

After a minute of the signal bouncing between stars, the screen blinked to life and the face of a woman with bright red hair appeared on the screen.

“Hello my dear.” Pryvani smiled. “I was wondering if you’d like to make a little trip for me…”