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Beyond Hope
- Chapter 17 - What whispers in darkness[]
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In name of Protecting the Duchess[]
Kowloon Compound
Tharkad, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
December, 3054
More gets done in a dark room, behind closed doors, than in the light where people can see.
-Proverb from the 7 highly Effective Strategies of a Lyran CEO.
As the data was still being collected by Jane and feelers were being put out for meetings with the people on the list generated by Moshe, Helena felt the pit in her stomach sink farther and farther.
“You have another thought.” Jacob noticed.
“Yeah. I have to assume despite our best efforts that we’ve been detected. People are probably already preparing exit strategies.” Helena answered.
“You’re thinking worse.” Jacob continued.
“What if they haven’t just detected us but have traced our efforts back to us?” Helena finally said aloud.
“”We’re ready for that here but that isn’t what you’re worried about.”
“They could be targeting Elizabeth as we speak. She’s incredibly vulnerable right now.”
“Pol has people in place to protect her.”
“From someone disguised as a nurse?”
“It’s handled.”
“Then a reasonable indulgence. Jane get a copy of everything we’ve uncovered so far prepared for Daphne to take to Elizabeth. Small team to make sure she gets there without drawing too much attention. Daphne your turn to play Miss Whyte.” Helena nodded.
“We should also show what we’ve got so far to the Archon.” Daphne pointed out.
“We don’t have anything particularly damning yet. We’d be laughed at as crackpots with what we have so far.” Jane spoke up.
“You’re right, but still we can’t get this across the finish line on our own and we’ll need both authorization and cover to make better progress.. We’ll keep trying to arrange meetings and digging for information. Daphne, I still want you to take what we’ve gathered to Elizabeth so far. I know she’ll be limited use in medical, but like I said we need more than what I can do as Baroness Spider Moon.” Helena walked into her bedroom.
In there she pulled out a different costume. One she wore long ago. When she was called the ‘War Witch’ by Tranh Truk Ngo.
An Unruly Patient[]
What's the cost? The MRI revealed bullet fragments that hadn't been gotten by the trauma surgeons on Donegal, It also revealed what only going a few years at all-or-nothing-all-the-time does to a human body.
"Your syndrome isn't moving faster, your Grace, you're driving yourself into an early grave without it. You've been adapted to your home world's clocks?"
"It makes more sense than trying to stick to a 24 hour clock when the planetary rotation is thirty hours, and we only get nights near the poles or in winter." she answered. "I have to work as long as my people are used to."
"Twenty hour work days."
"Yes, doctor." she said, "I use naps."
"I'd be fascinated to see how much of that 'nap time' is skipped. Your fatigue levels are telling on you, Duchess Ngo."
"I'm eighteen, It's not like it's going to matter-"
"You'd be surprised. Now I'm going to need to take some tissue samples…"
Elizabeth submitted.
"This may sting."
"Okay."
She didn't flinch when the sampling needle pulled a biopsy without anesthetic.
"Did you feel that?"
"Yes."
"On a scale-"
"One? Half?" she asked.
"Normal algometric responses are at least in the four range." he noted. "You're not numb, you said it just doesn't hurt very much?"
"Nope. Felt weird-the sliding feeling and the vibration when it dug into my thigh bone was weird…"
More tests.
More samples.
More interviews.
Then back into a medical scanner she'd never seen before.
"You're going to have to remain in-patient for the next ninety days, Duchess Ngo…and here's why:"
He brought up images, "we're going to have to go with a full knee replacement on your right leg, and structural intervention to your left-this is why you don't walk on a broken leg, meanwhile, we're also going to begin a series of experimental treatments for the lesions forming in your brain tissue, beginning with some medical techniques provided by an agreement with an outside source."
"Who?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
"Is it Comstar? If it's the Terrans I'm either walking out of here right now, or going out feet first!" she snapped.
"It's Not Comstar! Why do you-"
"I don't have to say why, only that I am NOT going to let Terrans poke at my brain!!"
"Neil…" a new voice spoke, "...Duchess Ngo, I am Doctor Fagen, with Wolf's Dragoons, we are NOT Comstar."
"Clanner Expats." she leaned back.
"Yes. You would not believe how much the Federated Commonwealth is paying for this."
"I would." Liz said, "because this is buying one of Jaime Wolf's trade secrets, if he didn't negotiate a brutal price, with expectation of being paid, he wouldn't be the man of legend that he is."
"What do you have against Comstar, if I may?" the Dragoon doctor asked.
"They're Terrans, the last vestige of the Terran Hegemony's Ministry of Communications, and they continued Terran Hegemony policies, including policies that targeted anyone who might get us out of the goddam dark ages. Holy Shroud? That's Focht admitting the least of what they've been doing, it's like Roaches, if you see one? There's a colony in your food cabinet. I don't trust anyone who's comfortably held a monopoly on communications and interstellar banking for centuries. Just to be what they appear to be, means needing in-depth dirty tricks espionage departments. I have trade secrets of my own, I don't want them read, hence not using Comstar, hence, being very nervous about even the risk of one of their guys getting a look under the hood.'
"I will not lie to you, Duchess, these treatments? They are going to hurt…they are going to hurt a LOT…even with your muted pain resistance. We're going to try using recombinant techniques to rebuild damaged nervous and brain tissues using techniques developed to treat Neuro-Burn feedback cases. In this case, we'll be trying to rebuild the decaying tissues that are inhibiting your dopamine receptors and interfering with other proper functions."
'Does it work?"
"We don't know, when this was tested before, it killed the patient, but we think we've worked out how to NOT kill you…and it works in animal testing so…"
"Whee. so walking out, or feet first."
"Yeah. Are you sure you will consent?"
"I have consequences if I don't." Liz said, "So you have my consent to proceed with this…experiment, but only on the condition that every step is published for review as it's taken, and all results, no matter how embarrassing, are published as part of the experimental paper." she stated, "If I'm gonna be a guinea pig, then it damned well better be handled like real science!!"
"Is there anything else?" He asked.
"Yeah, contact my people, have a worktop brought here." Elizabeth stated, "I'm not the Archon, I have work that I can't just delegate for an extended period of time, if I'm in hospital, I can at least keep up with what my people are doing."
A nurse fitted her with EEG and EKG sensors.
"Well, it might make a good interrogation technique for Lohengrin if it fails at least." Liz cracked.
New Options for Treatment[]
"Lady Helena, do you know what they're planning to do to her??" Majery was outraged. The Dragoons doctors had, true to the terms, published the intended experimental treatment.
"I don't understand this stuff, Majery, but I know what Elizabeth asked." Helena said, "Does it have a strong chance that it will work?"
“I’m not sure if it’s worth the cost. This kind of human testing went out with the Terran Alliance, because it's inhumane testing!”
“But will it work?” Helena prodded.
"It might.”
“Good enough for me then. We have a lot to do. And if it’s going to be accomplished, it’ll need her to be around for longer than a decade or two tops.” Helena nodded.
"Helena, it's going to involve direct nervous stimulation and induction-torture, because the body's trauma-avoidance mechanisms have to be subverted."
“What’s the alternative? The best we can offer her with what we have is her kids won’t inherit Cholman’s. At least that’s what I get from the medical files.” Helena nodded.
"She wants to go." Jane said, "Majery wants to be involved, not on the sidelines…isn't that right? The Researcher is having to watch someone else's research and it's under your skin?"
Majery flushed, a parade of fear, frustration, anger, compassion, confusion, and then acceptance marched across her features. "I…I guess I do." she said. "I'm being envious because ethics boards in my day blocked this very sort of work…."
“But you also care. It’s in your nature and why you became a Doctor. I’ll make some calls. If I can, I’ll get you involved. Maybe you can see something from the inside that will at least make it less terrible for Elizabeth.” Helena nodded.
“Elizabeth will freak a bit about that.” Daphne said.
“I know she doesn’t like Terrans, but I don’t think she sees us as Terrans. It’s a weird dichotomy for sure.” Helena nodded.
Options of Treatment[]
War fatigue. Eventually the Media gets tired of reporting on battles and speculating on strategies and looks for something-anything-else to report on. "...as you can see, protesters are starting to gather here in the capital, with counter-demonstrations forming just across the street…"
Arthur Steiner-Davion watched the report on the big screen. "Mom…why?"
"Why the protesters, or why the experiment?" Melissa asked.
"I guess I get the experiment, why are people demonstrating against it?" he asked. "It's the first attempt to treat one of the six incurables."
"The methods, what they imagine she's going through, some are wondering if she really consented, some are wondering if this isn't some dark plot or conspiracy." Melissa mused, "and some of them are wondering why we're spending so much on medical research into something so rare while AFFC personnel are fighting for their lives on the border."
"Does Victor know?" Arthur turned to his mother.
"Victor knows. I made sure he got the details of this plan before executing it…to avoid Joshua's problem." Melissa paused. “The worst part is there’s nothing we can really say to make it play better in the media. So that will amplify Elizabeth’s pain during her recovery.”
"Is she even going to be sane after this?" Katherine questioned out loud, "this stuff looks terrifying."
“This is the human mind and something none of us really understand. All we can do is hope.” Melissa shook her head.
"What are you going to do about Joshua, Mother?" Katherine asked.
"Your father had a plan to use a duplicate to mollify the Mariks if the treatments failed…but…" Melissa shook her head, "I can't do that. I won't do that."
"What changed your mind?"
Melissa sighed, "I have children. All it really took was a reminder of what it would be like, to lose one of you and have someone try to pawn off a copy." she smoothed her skirts and stood, "I'm going to tell Thomas that we are failing, to save his son…and hope he doesn't use that as a pretext for war, or worse."
"There's another option." Arthur spoke up. "Helena Cameron brought a Star League doctor."
"I guess I need to give Helena a call….and arrange a Command Circuit to New Avalon." Melissa announced.
Parting between Friends[]
“Majery… I’ll be fine, Elizabeth will be fine. I know you wanted in but you can help Joshua. So go. Help him. You can do what none of the other Doctors can.”
“I still might fail.” Majery said.
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Doctor Majery Caprice, Personal doctor to Helena Cameron.
“No defeatist thinking. I’m in good health. Elizabeth is responding to treatment. I know we’ll be apart for a while and that makes you nervous. It makes me nervous too but when you save Joshua it’ll all be worth it. You’ll have saved a life.”
“You don’t fight fair.” Majery frowned.
“Fair fights are for suckers.” Helena smiled. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.” Majery smiled.
“Mohommed, I know you two are dating but I’d feel a lot better if someone went with her to make sure she got back safe.”
“I can be objective. Though it may strain our relationship further.”
“And separating you two when I don’t have to will do the same. So okay. Go you two. And thank you both.” Helena nodded.
Majery and Mohammed went off to their rooms to collect their travel bags.
“What if you do need a doctor while Majery’s away? Your mental state is still such that it could be troublesome.” Jane asked.
"I've got Corpsman Nghien for anything minor." Helena said, "He's been understudying from Majery, and if it gets past his abilities, there are the best medical minds in three hundred worlds just a few minutes away."
“Good. You’re starting to trust him for that then.” Jane smiled.
“Yeah. I didn’t even flinch last time he had to manually take my blood pressure. He’s become familiar.”
"Well, it's not a rousing endorsement, but I'll take it over your left hook Majesty." Nghien said from the hatch, "Doc gave me a list of tasks and a timetable." he held up a pill container, "i'm supposed to watch you take 'em today."
“Heh. Still feel terrible about that.”
"Don't. Ma would say you punch like a Lady ought, and the bruises healed." Nghien grinned, "Mind my ma was a district kickboxing champion in the ladie's division in New Saigon, so her idea of 'how a lady should punch' has a lot more to do with the mechanics of knocking someone out…and at least I didn't have to splint your fingers like a bareknuckle competitor."
“I’ll take the compliment anyway.” Helena smiled.
The young Corpsman handed Helena her pills, and a drink. "Count 'em out." he told her, "it's procedure and I don't want to get it wrong, or the Doc will have my ass."
“Yeah, yeah. Huh. A couple new pills I don’t recognize.” Helena started separating her pills.
He held up the paper, "Check me, if I got it wrong you don't take it."
“Ah okay, new multivitamin there. So that’s fine. This one… Ah I see, same med just we’re having to pull from a local pharmacy now.” Helena checked her portable noteputer.
"I did the chem tests, it's the right drug, I got no explanation for why it looks like that."
“Probably just differences in manufacturing process. To be honest it’s amazing that a planet can keep their pills consistent, so that an interstellar nation can’t isn’t a big deal.” Helena smiled. “But that’s part of why I trust you. You keep testing.”
“Somebody has to keep these pharmas honest. And well…” The Corpsman trailed off.
“The best way for any of the new enemies I’ve made to get to me is through my medications. I know.” Helena took her pills and drank the water.
“Here. Bagel. Since some of those also require you to eat.” Jane handed Helena a plate.
“Thanks sis.” Helena started eating on the bagel.
“You think those two will still be dating by the time they get back?” Daphne asked.
“Doubtful. She’ll never convert and as much as he’s a practitioner of the more space faring friendly form of Islam there are still a few deal breakers for him if she doesn’t.” Helena shook her head. “We have any takers on meetings for today?”
“Sort of. Ryan Steiner is willing to meet, but not today. He has requested a meeting for tomorrow.”
“Works for me.” Helena nodded.
Meeting with a suspicious Man[]
“Is it me or does Helena seem different when she puts on her uniform?” Daphne asked.
“That’s because she is like a truly dedicated method actor. She is assuming a role. Tranh Truk Ngo declared it the War Witch. Some might even call it dissociative personality disorder. Whatever it is, it was how Helena got through the War.” Jane answered. “She’s seeing the War again. It’ll allow her to seem perfectly normal at first glance. No sign of the trauma, fear, anxiety, or hesitation. But look closely and you can still see the small tells. Like how she wears gloves even when it is not necessary.”
“But it’s just an act still.” Daphne nodded.
“Yes.” Jane answered quietly.
Helena walked confidently into the conference room where Ryan Steiner was waiting.
“Baroness Drilson.”
“Duke Steiner. I am pleased you agreed to take this meeting.” Helena smiled as she extended her hand.
“The prospectus you sent was certainly interesting.” Ryan Steiner shook it. “Though I must say your choice of attire for this meeting is interesting. Costumes and pretending to be someone else seems beneath someone of your station.”
“Call it a negotiation tactic.” Helena gestured to the seats at the table.
“You’re hoping I’ll assume you’re childish or eccentric so I’ll be less inclined to take advantage of you.”
"Or more." Helena smiled enigmatically.
He chuckled. "I see my reputation needs some polishing then, if people are saying that." he offered her a wide, guile-less grin that didn't quite meet his eyes, which were as had as shark's.
“So which points concern you? You would not have come here if there wasn’t something about the standard boiler plate that concerned you or was otherwise to your liking.”
"My investigators can't find anything about you prior to 3053." Ryan said directly, "which someone less worldly might interpret as evidence of another rumour. In the last year, you've amassed a massive coalition of business interests and not a small amount of capital while being Elizabeth Ngo's pal. This makes you interesting."
“It is an ambitious project, one that can be scaled upwards after some time. As for me, I’m literally an open book if you care to read the right book.” Helena gestured towards one of the servants.
A pair of steins were brought in a moment later. The one given to Ryan was filled with Timbique Dark. Helena’s contained a sparkling apple cider.
"So, I'm curious if you're the reason Duchess Headshot decided to open trade with the Feddies." he said semi-jovially, again, the mood in his words not reaching those cold, hard eyes.
“It’s true I was the final push but really it was the smart business move. This project could easily be interpreted as a Duke or Duchess building up for a bid for independence or insurrection. So strengthening ties is no bad thing to help alleviate fears.”
He sat back, "You said that with a straight face. You really don't know that family, do you?"
“The Ngos? I know enough of them to know that they are what this nation needs, loyal, strong, and committed to making things better not worse.”
"Old Dinh's granddaughter maybe." he countered, "Her grandfather was committed mostly to Katrina, and transferred his devotion to Melissa after Katrina's death. That man would steal the coins from the eyes of the dead and leave an IOU in their place otherwise, which is a compliment to the old bastard-completely ruthless, and ruthlessly local."
“Times change. This nation has spent the better part of three centuries tearing itself apart, being torn apart by its neighbors, and now finally someone has asked ‘why not peace?’ and the Federated Suns answered ‘yes’.”
"And then launched a fourth succession war and nearly broke both halves starting what was almost a fifth." Ryan reminded her, "a lot of blood was shed for not very much in that fifth one, by the way, and it gutted us just in time for the Clans to attack…and here you are. YOu're not one of Melissa's, and you don't seem like a Drac plot."
“No, I’m someone who’s seen what it’s like to go it alone and what happens if all you have are enemies and people who at best offer material aid but nothing truly meaningful. I’m also someone who’s seen what happens if certain people are left unchallenged.” Helena reached up to her campaign ribbons on her breast and undid the Elbar Campaign ribbon and slid it over to Ryan on the table.
"I read about that one." he admitted, "of course, sparring with Dinh 'never a phennig less' Ngo, I kind of needed to." Ryan mused, "That man!" he shook his head, "His boy never quite measured up to a man who broke three Lohengrin interrogation teams in five years and walked out of Blackgate stronger than he was-in terms of posture, than when he walked it…Okay, let's to business. One of the items in your proposal is a collection of manufacturing rights, which happen to be in my family's custody."
“Yes. Like I said there is a scaling potential to this project. Those rights will help with that. So how badly do you want to rake me over the coals for them? Or is the real question I should be asking be what do you really stand to gain on your own when you can stand with others?”
Ryan chuckled, "How about you answer this; why do you want the manufacturing rights to the Bolson Type 2252 Overthruster engine package? They only used those on the Mako and as sub-units on the Tharkad class, they're expensive and virtually worthless in the modern era."
“What good are charging stations if there are no ships to move cargo through them? Which means Dropships to put on Jumpships.”
"Those engines are almost dropship sized themselves." he noted, "Also there's a few requests here for rights to other equipment nobody's made since the Star League…is she building a fleet? Is Melissa letting that angry little girl build warships on the side?"
"Rowe-McClaren is investing in a pilot project to recover some of that capability in partnership with Lady Helena, yes." Daphne entered the room, "Sorry I'm late, Milady Helena, I was delayed at my family's Tharkad residence until ten."
“You’re fine, Daphne.”
"Why?" Ryan asked. "Your family mostly focus on merchant banking and mergers." he directed at the young woman, who was not in her Cadet grays, but instead, dressed out in a business suit.
"Economic Stimulus." Daphne stated, "The recovery of industrial infrastructure, and because the RX-series ships suffered crippling delays from Terran suppliers."
“Plus you’re a smart man, Duke Steiner, what’s the next logical thing you’ll need after you have all this shipping?” Helena smiled.
"A Navy to protect it…yes."
“Protect, police, and respond in case of other emergency.” Helena nodded.
"Your buy-in isn't cheap." he noted, "So this must be serious."
“Deadly.”
"My wife, Lady Kelswa, lost her homeworld to the Clans, will these ships you're trying to build be used against the Invaders?" Ryan asked.
“That is almost a certainty. The RX-78 project is already a first step towards narrowing the gap between us and the invaders.”
"If you can assure me that these will be prioritized for Lyrans first, Lady Helena. Not The Davions, but to protect Lyran interests? I will be happy to sign over the manufacturing rights and technical packages. Can you assure me of that?" Ryan asked. "Her majesty Melissa refused to do that when I asked about the Fuchs class-the RX-79 series."
“You know the oath I took, that I am but a Baroness. So I can’t promise that in absolute terms but to the limits of my station? I see no issue with giving the Lyran half priority whenever possible.”
Daphne unfolded her portable on queue. "Liz, can you hear and see me?" she asked.
"Yeah, is that Ryan Steiner?"
"Yes." Helena spoke, "You have the time right now?"
"For a couple hours before it's back into the torture chamber. They wanted to let me rest before going through the next few rounds. I assume I'm being brought in as one of the Partnership?"
"Yes, Duke Steiner has some questions about the ships…the special ones." Helena spoke. "He wants to know if they will be reserved for Lyran use before Export sales?"
"I opened Ngo Enterprises service and support to the Feds, but that doesn't mean I gave YOUR stuff to them too, Helena. If you say they're going to Lyran customers first, that's where they're going." on the small screen, Elizabeth looked fatigued and drawn, wincing at every movement.
“Then barring an order from the Archon so it shall be.” Helena nodded. “You should rest.”
"Did you ask him about possible partnerships with firms in Skye? We're going to need local partners for the High Road program and I don't want to try negotiating with Krupp Interstellar or one of the Davion affiliated outfits on the charging station contracts if I can avoid it, not in my present condition, anyway."
“I’m on it, Elizabeth. You take it easy. We should not have troubled you on one of your few rest breaks.”
"Thanks for bringing me in, Helena but I think I'm gonna sign out now, the green jello here? Tastes like sugar and some kind of weird sweetener, they tell me it's called 'apples'...and it's almost time for my jello." Elizabeth blinked out.
“Well there you have the next part of the proposals. There is a lot of money to be made here and much to be gained. But it does take working together.”
"You're serious…" Ryan looked a little shaken. "You're actually…Lady Helena, I heard a RUMOUR about the charging stations and I didn't believe it, I apologize."
“Me and Elizabeth Ngo are working to make a different future, a better one. One that requires great cooperation. We know we have to proceed carefully to keep the Archon’s trust.”
"Perhaps you won't have to be so careful soon." he said firmly, "I'd like to buy in, and I will find corporate partners for this…'High Road'-infrastructure project."
“Thank you, Duke Steiner.” Helena extended her hand again.
"I'll have my son Robert contact you with a list of companies whom will be interested." He assured her, "Say…within the next thirty five to forty five days?"
“That is acceptable. We have quite the backlog already. So a modest amount of time to prepare is actually helpful.” Helena smiled.
“Excellent.” Ryan shook Helena’s hand again.
Trying head off an Conspiracy[]
"That man, is planning something big in the next two months." Daphne commented after Ryan Steiner left the complex.
“Clearly, but we still don’t have enough yet to prove anything.” Helena nodded.
“Some of those promises you made… They could get a little sketchy depending on the Archon’s mood.” Daphne observed.
“Not really promises and businesses prioritizing one half of the realm over another is nothing new.” Helena shook her head. “But we will have to be careful once we actually start the actual partnerships.”
"It was hard getting Father on-board." Daphne noted, "Not impossible, you've got the full backing of Rowe-McClaren banking now, but it was VERY difficult to convince him this isn't going to be a scam of some kind."
“Last I checked everything was on schedule for Rowe-McClaren. Though I must admit I’m feeling a little out of my depth. I know I begged, borrowed, and stole during the War but this cloak and dagger intrigue is not exactly my strong suit.”
"Uncle George helped with that, my delay was mostly getting DAD to give in." she clarified, "He dislikes the Ngo family, it goes back to history-our family were Ralliers from the Rim Worlds, or as Liz has teased me, 'late to the party'."
“Heh. Uncle Alyks made sure I got volunteer formations from anywhere but the Rim Worlds Republic. Back then that was probably a good thing.” Helena nodded.
"Very likely. Kowloon's Volunteers are…obscure for most historians, but some of the stories passed down!" Daphne shook her head, "Things would not have gone well putting them in the same lines as ex-Rimworlds units who believed in the Star League."
“No. It would not have.” Helena started taking off her gloves. “Pol, I know we still don’t have much, but maybe you can put out some feelers to your friends.”
Pol Nguyen winced. "I…ah…my contacts at LIC? They're stonewalling." he said. "I've been warned off three times in the last two days."
“Shit. Then it’s worse than I thought. I’m a bit of a fish out of water here people. So I could use some ideas for how to warn the Archon but so far we seem to have nothing to warn her about besides bad feelings.” Helena looked around at the gathered people then continued, “We need someone actually foolish enough to hang themselves with the rope we give them.”
"No conspiracy can survive for long, because the more conspirators you have, the more likely someone is to slip up." Pol mused aloud, "if it's big, then he has people working on it now. if it's soon, then those people are probably numerous…someone at LIC is running a domestic operation, they'll have people who work under them."
"Stop asking the top and start asking the Janitors?" Daphne inquired, "I mean, that's something Lady Doons once told Elizabeth about corporate espionage…"
“And now that Ryan’s on board, they’ll probably stop rebuffing our calls now.” Jane nodded.
“Then we’ll have to keep watching the HPG grid and wait a few days for word to spread that we’re now in the ‘rebel kid club’. I don’t like being so passive but that’s the play I see.” Helena nodded.
Meeting with Miss Whyte and a Hot Burger[]
Elizabeth closed out the call, laid back, and typed in another prefix.
"Ms. Whyte?"
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Miss Whyte
"Hello, Your Grace! How are you being treated?"
"It hurts all over and the food has no taste. Listen, I need you to get Corporate's hot mess team working on the Rowe-McClaren deal, They're bringing in Ryan Steiner, which means Skye, which in turn means leaks, can you have Alicia contact her friends and start updating our background on who's a player in the Isle, and who might be a problem? Also need a few discreet inquiries into money movement."
"What are we looking for?" Whyte asked.
"Ugh, if I knew, I wouldn't need to ask such general questions, Ms. Whyte. Helena and Daphne brought me into a teleconference meeting with Ryan, that means something, I don't know what yet, but it means something, find out what they're looking into, and look into it."
"Of course, Mum."
"Thanks. Being hospitalized sucks."
“Maybe I can make it a little better?” Arthur Steiner-Davion said from the doorway. “Don’t tell the staff but I brought some real food.”
"Depends…you gonna take off your shirt for me?" Liz asked, "but food's good too."
He flushed dark red, but he didn't run away. Instead, he held up a paper baggie with the Fedburger logo and a soft-drink in a foam cup.
"You, are a KING." she said.
“Not yet and god willing, never. But I know what you mean.” Arthur smiled.
She discreetly closed out the call to her Chief Corporate Counsel, folded up the portable, and slid it onto the side-table.
He handed her the bag, and placed the drink in the bed's holder, then brought out a book. "Should I start where we left off?" he asked.
"Yeah."
He opened it, "...and Callie looked at Captain Luus, and said, 'this planet's not on any of our charts, captain! It's not supposed to exist!' Lulus smiled confidently…"
Elizabeth felt the stress drain away as she listened to Arthur reading from Star Cadet's seventh book, 'Striding the Darkness'. Between the food, and the company, she could almost ignore the throbbing ache running through every cell of her body.