Chapter 54: Meeting of the Bored -------------------------------- Sascha had gotten up early, careful not to wake Garland. He was undoubtedly tired... So was she, but today was going to be a long day. And hopefully a better one than yesterday. She shook her head, trying to forget the whole Lazarus mess... She dressed quickly, then headed for the barracks. Kimberley was already dressed, just as Sascha had told her to be. She smiled at her superior, honored that she had taken the time to fetch her herself. "I'm all ready to go, Lady DelAubre!" She snapped off a salute, and Sascha had to smile. She wondered if Kim would ever break that habit... "I just need to know where I'm going!" "Why don't you come up to the dining hall with me, and we'll discuss it over breakfast." "Yes, sir!" Sascha sighed. "I mean, yes, thank you," the lieutenant quickly corrected. * * * * * "You see, it has come to my attention, especially after this mess with Captain Brokengulf, that our officers need to know what the others are doing." Sascha took a drink of orange juice before continuing her speech. "So, I've decided that I need to have a sort of staff meeting. I'm especially concerned that our Imperial Prefects are appraised of all developments." Kimberley nodded. "What I need you to do is go and get them." "I'd be delighted to!" "That's good." Sascha balled up her napkin and placed it on her empty plate. "Let's see...You'll have to pick up Captain Datura in Nikeah, Captain Lago in Zozo, and Captain Rakhar in Albrook. Take a cutter, and you should be back before noon." She smiled, dropping the professional veneer. "I know you have a lot to take care of before the wedding!" Kimberley blushed. "Thank you, sir." "Now get going!" She waved her hand, a casual grin on her face as she reclined in her seat. The lieutenant saluted again, and rushed off, leaving the Empress alone in the large hall... * * * * * Sascha surveyed the conference table, noting its glossy sheen with approval. The officers she had called here were, in her opinion, the most qualified ones in the Empire. General Garek would be here, Commander Varalis, who had been transferred to Doma a few weeks beforehand, and of course the prefects. She wondered what the others would think of having someone who was a 'mere' commander in their midst...But then, almost everyone had heard of Kyrrel's expertise in battle. She was confident everything would go smoothly... Then, before her appeared a *very* frazzled Lieutenant Hart. "They're here," said the young woman, sounding like a bit character in a pulp horror novel. Sascha arched an eyebrow. "How was your trip?" Kimberley's shoulders slumped. "Terrible..." She shuddered... Captain Datura kept hitting on Captain Rakhar. Lago *smoked* the whole way up. And Rakhar kept telling him it was bad for him...I think my mind is broken..." "Oh dear." Sascha sighed. "Take the rest of the day off..." "Thank you!" exclaimed Hart, her eyes wide with gratitude. She almost hugged her commander, before she remembered her sense of protocol. Instead, she saluted, and walked off. Quickly. Shortly after her departure, General Mattaeus Garek stepped into the room. "Greetings, Empress," he said with a bow. "Am I early?" "A bit." She rubbed her temple absently. "I simply can't wait to meet this Commander Varalis. I've heard *so* much about him." Sascha didn't bother to ask how he knew Kyrrel would be here. Garek knew a lot of things that couldn't be explained...That was why he was head of intelligence. The General smiled, and took his seat at the table. "Ah. Here he is now." Sascha turned around, and sure enough, standing in the doorway was a man who bore the rank insignia of a commander. He was a tall, thin man, with a pale complexion, and icy grey eyes. His face was fine-featured, with high cheekbones. His most striking feature however, was his hair. It was...blue, hanging to his shoulders. "Empress DelAubre, I presume?" He spoke with a slight accent that she couldn't put her finger on. "Yes. Take a seat, Commander." He looked around the room, as if he expected someone to jump out of the wall and attack him. Garek smiled, and waved. Kyrrel sat down facing him. 'What an interesting person,' thought Sascha... "Stop that!" A man's voice echoed down the hall. Sascha stuck her head out the door to see an unlikely trio approaching. There was a tall, handsome man with long dark hair, dressed in a red coat and a black suit. He was glaring at a raven-haired woman beside him, who was dressed (barely) in a suit of black armor, a purple cape, and a sort of skirt. "Stop what?" She said, her voice low and musical. "You *pinched* me!" Their companion, a man swathed in black cloth, and wearing a hat that obscured his eyes, chuckled. "Ahem!" Sascha cleared her throat, and the three looked up. "The meeting is in here, if you're not too *busy*." The dark haired man blushed, and bowed low to the ground. "A thousand apologies, Empress DelAubre! I am Captain Jessad Rakhar, at your humble service." The woman smiled tersely. "Reiko Datura," she said simply. "And you must be Captain Lago," said Sascha, turning to the cloaked man. He nodded, but said nothing. "Well, let's get started." The four walked in, and sat down. Sascha noted that Datura was staring at Commander Varalis..This wasn't going as well as she'd planned...But, she'd make it through. "Well, I suppose you're wondering what we're all here for." There were a series of nods. "I just want us to stay in touch, so to speak. I want each of you to give a sort of 'status report'. Lately, we've had some communications problems..." Garek grinned at these words. "...which I'd like to avoid in the future." "So why am *I* here?" asked Varalis. "You," she said, turning to her left to face him, "are here to watch, and learn. You show great promise, and I have plans for you..." The young officer nodded, seemingly pleased with himself. "So, we'll start with you, Captain Datura..." * * * * * Much Later, and after several scoldings of Captain Datura to take her hand *off* Commander Varalis' leg... * * * * * "...And so, we still have not recovered the wreckage of the Fury, although its co-ordinates are known." Garek sat down, his report concluded. "Is there any possibility of survivors?" asked the Empress tiredly. "A very *small* possibility." "Well, if there's any possibility, I think we should investigate," put in Rakhar. Sascha nodded. Over the past few hours, she'd begun to like the Prefect of Albrook. "Very well. Commander Varalis, take the Ravage out tomorrow at eight hundred hours, and check out the crash area." Kyrrel seemed somewhat annoyed at being given such a menial (in *his* mind, anyway) task, but acquiesced nonetheless. "Yes, my Empress." Sascha sighed. "And on that happy note, you are all dismissed." There were a lot of sighs, and the sound of chairs being moved as the officers filed out of the room. * * * * * "Survivors, indeed!" Commander Kyrrel Varalis muttered to himself as he stalked down the corridor, fists clenched. "As if I don't have *better* things to do!" He stopped, and slammed his fist against a wall. "I should be out there, killing Returners, not stagnating on some pathetic milk run!! Aaargh!" He snarled in frustration. "Damn, damn, DAMN!" He continued down the hallway, trying to cheer himself up by thinking of various ways he could kill Returners if he happened to find some on his mission... And speaking of Returners... What was this? A strangely dressed young man and a young female stood in the hall, talking to another man. Returners! At last, something to do... He grinned evilly... but then realized this wasn't as simple as it looked. The man the two Returners were talking to was none other than Lady DelAubre's lover, Garland. Kyrrel groaned inwardly. 'Dammit... I just want to ace some Returners! Is that so much to ask?' Now he would have to find the Empress herself, and by that time the Returners might get away! "Damn!" he whispered... it was quickly becoming the word of the day. But, he would do his best. He dashed off the way he had come, imploring Kefka to let him find the Empress before it was too late... * * * * * When the others were gone, Sascha let out her breath slowly. She wasn't *going* to do *that* too often... She pushed herself out of her seat, and stretched out her cramped legs. She wondered what Garland was up to. He was always good at helping her unwind... With that pleasant thought on her mind, she left the conference room, and strolled off down the hallway. As she passed the entrance to the recently completed KrommTech wing, she was surprised to hear Garland's voice...and that of someone else. Carefully, she peeked around the corner. There he was, talking to another man in extremely odd garb who could only be a Returner, and a young woman. She ducked back behind the door, and slumped against the wall. A Returner... in Doma... with *her* Garland?? What did this mean? Was he going to leave her; go back with them? Her eyes began to burn, and her lower lip trembled. She stumbled to her feet, tears streaming down her face, and ran down the hallway, sobs wrenching her body. She just wanted to get back to her room... But instead she slammed into someone else, who was running towards her. She looked up, and saw Commander Varalis. "Empress!" he exclaimed, then "Empress?" he noted her distressed state. "Ah, there seem to be some Returners in the KrommTech wing, with..." "With Garland," she said miserably. "Yes, I know." "What is to be done? Surely we are not going to give them free run of our base!" Sascha sniffed. "I don't care! Get rid of them! I don't care how! But don't hurt Garland..." Kyrrel's eyes narrowed, and his lips pulled back into a grin. "It will be my pleasure." He set off towards the East Wing, leaving Sascha alone in her misery. Maybe... with these Returners gone, Garland would stay with her... or maybe he would hate her forever... She sat down on the floor, and began to cry.