Tessa regarded Juliette curiously. I had no idea the House of Sri was so spartan.
This Scion is spartan.
I did not intend a slight on your hospitality. I am careful what I drink and
eat.
Tessa glanced at Sri’s gloves. How
unobservant of me. So no wine or spirits?
Precious
little. I avoid all depressants actually
– stimulants, depressants. Anything that takes one off-center.
Tessa laughed. Some of us
found our balance by being unbalanced. The rest of her response was tinged
with sadness. You still live like a
Vulcan even though you are no longer there?
I am grateful I live, at all, and I remember
my years on Vulcan with great fondness. Vulcans
sip emotion like water found in a desert – slowly, carefully, and savoring
every drop. I have heard of those with
my condition that have had surgeries to remove the portion of the brain that
allows for telepathy. I’d rather live like this, than perish like that.
Juliette felt Tessa shudder, and her uneasy silence was profound. She
abruptly changed the subject, and forced her tone playful. I hope I have not spoiled a surprise, but I heard the pilots going over
the flight plan. Did I hear we were stopping by House Renat?
Tessa also abruptly brightened. The weather at Renat is too beautiful to be wasted. Are you familiar?
Juliette smiled, and concealed neither her recognition of the name
nor her excitement at the prospect of visiting. House Renat was nestled within
the terraced cliffs of the West Coast of the Southern Continent and was one of
the first settlements established when settlers left the Northern Continent -- built during the tense times when Betazoid
Houses were much more powerful and sometimes at war. It had been Castle Renat
back then, and the wide coastal terraces obscured by lush vegetation had been
fortified by cut blocks of the local white sandstone and made its place in history
as a beacon for seagoing vessels and a deterrent to the pirates that preyed on
them. Almost two thousand years later while some the walls mostly remained, the
siege engines had long been removed, replaced with cafes and gift shops that
faced out over startlingly blue water. The
keep itself had been transformed into an art museum; the lower and main wards used
for outdoor theater and concerts. It was so popular reservations had to be made
over a year in advance, with dispensation to the Hectat and above. That
dispensation made House Renat even more famous as a place to be seen and
perhaps associate with those of the upper houses.
The realization caused a moment of doubt for Juliette. Being seen
at Renat with Tessa would bring Juliette prestige, with very little service
from House Sri. That kind patronage without service created obligation. Obligation that can be called in
unpredictable ways, she darkly thought to herself and considered asking the
pilots to use their communication array to contact Papa, or Kanara if
necessary. But using the shuttle’s communicator meant having to talk – talk which
could be heard by the pilots who reported to Tessa. She didn’t want to risk offending House Morin
with her suspicions. She looked forlornly to her bag with the PADD inside. If she could get a message out to the family,
maybe she could learn a little more. But that communication could be – would be
if Morin’s bodyguards were capable – observed. For a fleeting moment, she
wondered if she was being too cautious, but the sheer weight of the obligation
Morin was heaping on her pulled her back toward caution. If the stakes were high enough, conversations
would be analyzed, filtered, and studied by experts and algorithm until every
possible tidbit of meaning had been sifted out of it. She quickly finished her
drink, handing it to a waiting attendant. She flashed a quick smile to Andres
who had observed her sudden motion to the locker with her bags, and retrieved
her PADD.
She rarely wrote her messages, and she spent several moments re-acquainting
herself with the interface. Andres
regarded her with some amusement. Wouldn’t
a comm be faster?
She chose her answer carefully. If I commed, my family might want to talk a while. I’m just letting
them know I will be delayed. She used her frustration with the buttons on
the PADD to hide her evasiveness. Any
kind of comm – video or voice – would provide those who might listen in more
information – tone of voice, facial expressions – to be analyzed later. Writing gave up the least to those that
didn’t know the author, even when writing was frustratingly slow.
But you do not
need to use that series of buttons, you can just speak –
Juliette looked up from the PADD with a flat expression that
stopped Andres in mid-thought. Perhaps I
could get you another juice? He
finished lamely.
She forced a small smile. Yes,
please.
Andres politely left her and her frustration to get her another juice,
giving at least the illusion of private communication.
She wrote: Papa, I wanted to
let you know that House Morin has most graciously offered a detour to House
Renat…
She stopped. What else could she say? She decided not to, and let
her brevity and the medium she used speak for her. I will send message when we leave. I miss you all, and look forward to
talking with you. She sent it, and stowed her PADD in her bag inside a
locker, taking out her Starfleet communicator and pocketing it to notify her if
a message from anyone in House Sri arrived. Andres arrived with a green fizzy
juice which she took with a grateful smile.
Conversation was light and easy for the rest of the trip, and
Juliette gently guided the conversation as much as she could to news of
Betazed, and life among the Hectat. The latter was easy. Part of being a House
of Betazed meant following the alliances between houses, the temporary
associations and even the trivial relationships that could blossom into more
long lasting allegiances. Everyone had information and an opinion on what each
of the major houses intended until Tessa said after a particularly intense exchange
regarding a potential shift in the pentad, Listen
to us! All wrapped up in this ancient pecking order. Oh Juliette, you must find
the whole thing so silly from light years away!
Juliette pretended to be caught mid-sip in her drink to think of
her response. When I sit down with my
science teams, we sound just as caught up in our work as well.
Do you think it’s
silly? Andres asked, and inwardly Juliette sighed. A
direct question was hard to slide around and she was now forced to say
something impolite or lie.
Sometimes, She confessed, which was only a slight evasion
that based on everyone’s smirks and light laughter did not fool anyone.
It is silly
sometimes. Andres
offered in a conciliatory tone, and while he meant well, cooled the laughter
quickly. He represented the lowest ranked house – including the pilots and
Tessa’s assistant, who had politely distanced themselves from the conversation.
Criticizing the system that put both House Sri and House Morin where they were indicated
they didn’t deserve their positions. Juliette paused and considered the best
way to politely defend House Morin.
Tessa rescued the situation as she added with a bright tone, Most of the time. Its silly most of the
time. Her comment took the weight
from Andres words, even as she abruptly changed topic. Oh, you
have to see this. You’re not frightened by heights, Juliette? She grinned conspiratorially
to her pilots and her assistant as Juliette shook her head no. Tessa worked quietly on a console for several
seconds. This is perfect! She thought with a sense of mock foreboding. We’re just approaching House Renat.
As Tessa worked the console, the walls and furniture became more translucent
until doorways and furniture were indicated only by faint red outlines – to prevent us from running into things, Juliette
thought to herself. She felt a brief
moment of disorientation, as she looked down to an azure smear of ocean
speeding below them as the flyer sped toward House Renat. One of Tessa’s bodyguards seemed to lean
against nothing at all as the high green cliffs of House Renat, dotted with
white sandstone walls, rushed toward them.
Brilliant! Juliette thought out loud. This is a view from outside. Is it
holographic?
Pigmentation
nano-bots in the materials of the walls and furniture let everything appear
transparent. Tessa replied. It was part of Jem’Hadar shroud technology. I like this application
much better.
Juliette nodded in agreement just as the flyer banked hard. Even
as the world dipped at an almost completely sideways, the inertial dampeners of
the flyer compensated such that everyone inside felt only a slight pull to the
side that evened out. The discrepancy
between what she saw and what she felt was disorienting, and for a moment, she
didn’t know which sensations to react to and she gripped a barely visible chair
for stability. She closed her eyes and heard gasps from almost everyone, and
was relieved she was not the only one to suffer a sense of vertigo. She opened her eyes again, and House Renat seemed to be briefly under their
feet as the flyer began a switchback route to rise above the cliff and approach
the landing pads on the eastern side of the estate. Juliette gripped the back
of a chair for stability.
During a deep, sweeping turn, her communicator buzzed. She immediately
glanced toward where she remembered the locker to be, and saw only blue sky and
wisps of clouds. She grimly realized that in order to get to her PADD, she had
to walk across an invisible floor and open up a nearly invisible locker while
the shuttle performed aerial acrobatics to give a dizzying view of Castle
Renat.
She took a hesitant step toward the locker just as the ship
lurched and quickly lunged for the chair clutching the back of the chair to
steady her before she fell to the floor. She struggled to contain her
embarrassment. Right she thought to herself, its
only vertigo. She counted the steps to the locker in her mind, closed her
eyes as she took a deep breath, began making deliberate steps to the locker,
bracing for the minor shifts as the shuttle maneuvered. Her fingers brushed the smooth wall, and she
peeked out between her closed eyes. The the touch of her hand had caused the
access pad to reveal itself. She ignored the cliff walls racing by just under
her fingers and opened the locker, happy to see the inside of the locker did
not reflect the scene outside the shuttle as the door did, and when the door
opened, she all but buried her head in the locker opening to block out the
world lurching around her, digging for her PADD and quickly reading the words.
Beloved Daughter
and Second Scion of House Sri,
Juliette read the intro over and over carefully. For a quick note,
the formality was surprising. She swallowed; realizing that the use of her
title meant something was going on – something that was an affair between
Houses.
Your Matron and I
are so very glad to hear you have landed on Betazed safe and sound. I regret
the mix-up that most assuredly greeted you at the space port. House Jordres
approached me after House Morin had approached our Matron. I should have
coordinated with our Matron, and I hope my error was not too awkward, and
convey to both Morin and Jordres my deepest regrets.
The words were contrite, but the actions entirely out of character
for them. Papa would never make such a careless mistake. This had be Kanara’s doing – she never felt Juliette
was contributing enough to the House, and most likely threw her in to be of
some use for some scheme.
Oh, and someone
from Daystrom had tried to contact you – Remel got the message and didn’t get
the particulars – only that you should contact them when convenient.
Juliette closed her eyes, forcing herself to diminish the
maelstrom of thoughts forming in her head. Writing
can more easily lie than talking. Talking can lie more easily than thinking. Papa
had mentioned Daystrom for a reason – the contact must have been more urgent
than he had implied. She considered asking Tessa to take her back to House Sri,
but that would be a political disaster – and a disappointment for everyone.
She felt Andres’ attention, and his approach. A disappointment to myself as
well, she thought, enjoying Andres’ attention. It helped her put aside her
worries about the note and focus on the light, pleasant attitude that she
wanted to project.
Juliette? Are you
alright? His
question was gentle.
It is nothing.
The trip from Eta Eridani the was long.
Do you need rest?
His words were heavy with his concern.
And miss House
Renat? No! And say nothing, please. I have not been there since Kanara married
Levin -- back when I was still in the Academy.
She sighed from behind her mental walls. She was asking Andres to keep a
confidence. The obligation she was generating was palpable, and he knew it.
It will be our
secret, Scion of Sri. He said with a mischievous smile.
She smiled back. Not all obligations had to be unpleasant.
The shuttle landed on the eastern side of the fortress estate. As a member of the Hectat, Tessa and her
retinue were whisked by the queue of others registering at the gatehouse.
Juliette quietly marveled at the cleverness of turning the main entryway into a
large multi-terraced club and café, to accommodate the many whose sole purpose
at House Ranat was to be seen at House Ranat. Andres sullenly thought toward her, Many of the people serving at the shops and
cafes are closer to our rank than Morin’s. I would imagine some of them are of
a higher rank.
Juliette smiled with slight amusement. She could only imagine Kanara’s
response to Andres putting house Jordres and House Sri in the same strata. She could not dwell on it long, however as
she was already having to contend with the attention of being the guest of a
darling of the Hectat. Tessa was clearly well-known here and Juliette was
engulfed by the sensations from those that recognized Tessa and those that
longed to be recognized by her. She shielded her mind and kept a pleasant smile
as some of that attention to Tessa turned into attention and sometimes
recognition of her. She felt Andres
expressed concern for her as well, his first acknowledgment of her condition
which he had seemed to so casually overlook before. She nudged back with her
own mind reassuringly, and diffidently shrugged, as if all the attention was
nothing. Juliette smiled and nodded her
way through the people milling in the gatehouse into the landward side of the
fortress and was pleased to see Tessa wasted no time darting down a side path
and following a circuitous route along several smaller yet scenic paths flanked
with white sandstone on one side and artistic landscaping on the other. Andres
made a point of identifying every plant she took an interest in, and it quickly
turned into a game for them, with her finding more and more obscure pants. She
was pleased to see him only guess on a few.
Betazed’s reputation
in the botanical and natural sciences is considered by many to be in the same
class as Risa’s. Tessa mused in an offhand way. We love our gardens and House Renat has done
wonders with preserving the local ecosystem. We could stay here for supper, and
arrange a tour of the gardens of the lower terraces. It’s a beautiful walk.
For a moment, Juliette was tempted and considered asking Tessa to
extend guest status to her family as well and have them meet her here, but the
obligation that would generate was enormous -- far more than she wanted to
handle with someone who clearly was gathering obligation to get something from
her. Forgive
me, House Morin, but I must decline. Juliette said as formally as she could. It has been over a year since I have been at
House Sri – I have been a neglectful Scion, I’m afraid. I miss them greatly.
Of course, I am
pleased we have the time that we do, and we should make the most of it. I know
this great little café with a fantastic view over the cliffs. She
turned about quickly, walking down the path with all the confidence of one who
knew the labyrinth of paths like the Matron of House Renat.
The café was small, sheltered, and for all practical purposes and
mostly private -- ensured so by the warnings that indicated the path was
private and for guests of the House. Tessa and her guests were not the only
ones at this small but busy café, but they were largest party though it was
clear that the other guests of the House were Hectat and above.
Juliette tried to ignore the implications of the wide difference
in the standing between House Morin and House Sri as she perused a holographic
menu and ordered a rare fruit juice replicators back at the station never
seemed to get quite right. She settled
in a high-backed chair that faced the ocean, enjoying the thick, sweet scent of
the tree blossoms carried over lazy breeze. Out of the corner of her eyes she
studied Tessa, using her eyes instead of her mind to gauge her mood. She had
learned that Betazoids may shield their minds, only to let body language betray
them. Tessa seemed relaxed and casual as
she too looked out to the ocean.
Juliette’s drink arrived
and she stirred it with her straw slowly. It is
very gracious of House Morin to offer this hospitality. I cannot help but
wonder why one would be so interested in House Sri.
Tessa’s amusement was palpable as she seemed to mull the question. I had heard you were direct. I can see why you generated so much interest
at the Daystrom conference, and I am pleased that House Morin was part of your
approval to present. Tessa resumed
her quiet contemplation while Juliette noted the addition of yet *more*
obligation. Tessa let her eyes drift to a couple who she waved to pleasantly. For
all outward appearances, their conversation was not happening and they were
enjoying a sunny day in a west coast café, watching other people. Why should I not be seeking anything from
House Sri? Can I not be merely spending time with one of the long-lost scions?
Juliette let her silence answer the question, which only provoked increasing
amusement from Tessa until she finally broke the silence. Your discovery of the Biome was quite amazing. I heard first contact
was almost fatal. She expressed admiration, leaving Juliette uncertain for
a moment if she was answering her question or changing the subject.
It was not easy,
though fatal might be an overstatement. Juliette simply shrugged, letting a small bit
of curiosity show through while hiding the sense of deja vu from her conversation
with Andres.
Cortical shock
isn’t that much of an overstatement. If a medical officer had not be present,
you could have died or worse. Tessa
nodded – not to Juliette, but to the barista who refilled her drink. Juliette recognized
the barista and realized that his house really did outrank Sri by about a
hundred. Tessa continued as if she sensed Juliette’s discomfort. I think
House Morin could provide quite a boost to House Sri’s efforts. Our research
facilities rival Daystrom’s, and we do have several strategic partnerships with
them.
Juliette considered the words carefully as she closed her eyes,
pretending to relax when every nerve was stretching tighter and tighter. Are
you suggesting that House Morin take over the research of the Biome from
Daystrom?
Tessa actually laughed a little. We can discuss that later .You just got back, Juliette You’re home.
Indulge…she glanced toward Andres and wryly smiled at Juliette …yourself. I do hope you can make yourself
free the day after tomorrow though. We’re hosting a festival on Tal Island. I
insist you attend as my guest. Its normally
reserved for the Hectat, and now it will be the Hectat, you, and whatever consort –or consorts -- you
wish to bring Just remember the Tal
Island Festival is a celebration of change, and is no time for caution. You may
very well arrive in one situation, and leave in a different one entirely.