Special Division |
of men & monsters...
|
Special Division
Introduction:
“We sent our voices whispering to the stars… ‘We are here… please answer us’. But no-one replied.
We were all alone.
And then we turned, and found you standing beside us, where you had been all along.”
St Ives, 22nd century.
Welcome to the future. We live long, prosperous lives. And we are not alone.
In the previous century, geneticists had begun to suspect that some human DNA came from non-human lineages. Special Division was set up by the World Government and national governments to trace these lineages; locate full-blooded non-human survivors if any and provide them with the protections and legal rights of humanity.
And protect us from the more malignant of them…
“We sent our voices whispering to the stars… ‘We are here… please answer us’. But no-one replied.
We were all alone.
And then we turned, and found you standing beside us, where you had been all along.”
St Ives, 22nd century.
Welcome to the future. We live long, prosperous lives. And we are not alone.
In the previous century, geneticists had begun to suspect that some human DNA came from non-human lineages. Special Division was set up by the World Government and national governments to trace these lineages; locate full-blooded non-human survivors if any and provide them with the protections and legal rights of humanity.
And protect us from the more malignant of them…
Episode 1: Aria
Aria woke suddenly, feeling a cold breeze across her shoulders. The tiny cabin door was open, letting moonlight flood into the room. She looked across at the other bed. Empty. Again.
She got up quickly, and pulled on her clothes. She felt under her pillow and retrieved her favourite weapon, the tiny percussion cannon, and shoved it into the holster at her hip; then the laser pistol in the other holster. Be prepared, that was Mother’s motto. Can’t fault that, Mother she thought.
She moved quietly out into the darkness and adjusted her eyesight. She was doubly blessed, not only with unusual genetic attributes but also by having a wealthy father who make sure she had the latest cybernetic enhancements. The full moon rode right overhead. Midnight. The witching hour. Aria was sure something bad was abroad. That had disturbed Sylvie’s sleep, sending her running in a waking nightmare to get away. There was something very disturbing about the thought of Sylvie out there alone in the darkness.
She had met Sylvie at the Alfar University they both attended, and struck up a friendship straight away. Sylvie’s only relative, her mother, was apparently a secretive loner who had died recently. Surprisingly, there was money. Even more surprisingly, it was stipulated that Sylvie use the money attending this university. Why was a mystery. Sylvie was a full human as far as she knew. Sylvie had eventually confided in her about the nightmares and the sleep-walking. She’d had to, she couldn’t hide them from Aria since they begun had travelling together on a working holiday during the summer break.
Sylvie hadn't put on her clothes or her shoes. She must be sleep-walking in that damned white nightgown. She’d be cold and foot-sore. And be damned easy to spot and track if there really was something malicious out there. Aria had to find her and fast.
She looked around carefully. She adjusted her eyesight to see into the infra-red. Nothing stirred at the edge of the orchard where they were working. Nothing around the other cabins or the utility building. Sadly no traces of footprints either, the night was cool and they’d already disappeared. She adjusted her eyesight back into the visible wavelengths. Cat-like her pupils opened wide. It was almost like daylight where the moonlight shone. Only in shades of grey. The shadows were still deep and dark though.
She decided on a direction. Away from the cabin door, away from the shadowed orchard, along the moonlit dusty track that led to the nearest road. She ran quietly using long strides to cover the ground efficiently, looking ahead and around for any sign of Sylvie. She would have covered a fair distance at first, but was sure to have faltered as she woke completely from her nightmare. She would have stuck to the moonlit track, away from the shadows at the sides. The orchard trees crowded right up to the track. She reached the grassed area beside the country road and looked around. She hoped she would not have to guess which way Sylvie had gone. On the other side of the road, thin woods with tangled undergrowth were dark and somehow menacing, instead of charming as they had been during the day.
Yes, there was a white object hunched on the ground beside the road. Sylvie looked up as Aria ran up to her. Her face was scared. She was hunched on the ground with her arms around her knees, shivering visibly. Aria put her hand on Sylvie’s shoulder. “Can you walk?” she said in a low voice. Sylvie tried to stand, then fell back with a wince. Aria looked down. She could see streaks of blood at the sides of her feet.
“I’ll piggy-back you” she said, preparing to kneel down in front of Sylvie. Then she heard it.
It was a low menacing growl, coming from the dark trees across the road. She had never heard anything like it in her life. It did not sound like any animal she knew of, certainly not one with any right to be wandering around the French countryside in the 23rd century. She could feel the hairs rise stiffly on her neck. She glanced towards the sound without moving her head. Sylvie’s hand gripped her arm. “It’s OK Sylvie” she breathed “I’m armed”. She could just make out two pale dots of light in the darkness. At least she knew where it was. She slowly drew the percussion cannon out of the holster on her right hip and held it casually by her side. Her favourite weapon. It could swat away an elephant, or punch a hole in a tank if she chose. She flicked the intensity switch with her thumb. If it came at them, it would have to run across the moonlit road. She would have plenty of time to fell it with a massive sonic blow, then dispose of it if that was necessary.
Then suddenly, there was a massive commotion from the direction of the animal… thing, whatever. There were shouts, a few flashes of light, and an unholy racket from the creature. In the midst of this, a shadow detached itself from the trees on their side of the road and started towards them. Sylvie’s attention was riveted upon the noise but Aria remained alert to her surroundings as she had been taught.
As the shadow drew close, Aria swung round straight-armed and pointed the percussion cannon into the face of the young man standing beside them.
She got up quickly, and pulled on her clothes. She felt under her pillow and retrieved her favourite weapon, the tiny percussion cannon, and shoved it into the holster at her hip; then the laser pistol in the other holster. Be prepared, that was Mother’s motto. Can’t fault that, Mother she thought.
She moved quietly out into the darkness and adjusted her eyesight. She was doubly blessed, not only with unusual genetic attributes but also by having a wealthy father who make sure she had the latest cybernetic enhancements. The full moon rode right overhead. Midnight. The witching hour. Aria was sure something bad was abroad. That had disturbed Sylvie’s sleep, sending her running in a waking nightmare to get away. There was something very disturbing about the thought of Sylvie out there alone in the darkness.
She had met Sylvie at the Alfar University they both attended, and struck up a friendship straight away. Sylvie’s only relative, her mother, was apparently a secretive loner who had died recently. Surprisingly, there was money. Even more surprisingly, it was stipulated that Sylvie use the money attending this university. Why was a mystery. Sylvie was a full human as far as she knew. Sylvie had eventually confided in her about the nightmares and the sleep-walking. She’d had to, she couldn’t hide them from Aria since they begun had travelling together on a working holiday during the summer break.
Sylvie hadn't put on her clothes or her shoes. She must be sleep-walking in that damned white nightgown. She’d be cold and foot-sore. And be damned easy to spot and track if there really was something malicious out there. Aria had to find her and fast.
She looked around carefully. She adjusted her eyesight to see into the infra-red. Nothing stirred at the edge of the orchard where they were working. Nothing around the other cabins or the utility building. Sadly no traces of footprints either, the night was cool and they’d already disappeared. She adjusted her eyesight back into the visible wavelengths. Cat-like her pupils opened wide. It was almost like daylight where the moonlight shone. Only in shades of grey. The shadows were still deep and dark though.
She decided on a direction. Away from the cabin door, away from the shadowed orchard, along the moonlit dusty track that led to the nearest road. She ran quietly using long strides to cover the ground efficiently, looking ahead and around for any sign of Sylvie. She would have covered a fair distance at first, but was sure to have faltered as she woke completely from her nightmare. She would have stuck to the moonlit track, away from the shadows at the sides. The orchard trees crowded right up to the track. She reached the grassed area beside the country road and looked around. She hoped she would not have to guess which way Sylvie had gone. On the other side of the road, thin woods with tangled undergrowth were dark and somehow menacing, instead of charming as they had been during the day.
Yes, there was a white object hunched on the ground beside the road. Sylvie looked up as Aria ran up to her. Her face was scared. She was hunched on the ground with her arms around her knees, shivering visibly. Aria put her hand on Sylvie’s shoulder. “Can you walk?” she said in a low voice. Sylvie tried to stand, then fell back with a wince. Aria looked down. She could see streaks of blood at the sides of her feet.
“I’ll piggy-back you” she said, preparing to kneel down in front of Sylvie. Then she heard it.
It was a low menacing growl, coming from the dark trees across the road. She had never heard anything like it in her life. It did not sound like any animal she knew of, certainly not one with any right to be wandering around the French countryside in the 23rd century. She could feel the hairs rise stiffly on her neck. She glanced towards the sound without moving her head. Sylvie’s hand gripped her arm. “It’s OK Sylvie” she breathed “I’m armed”. She could just make out two pale dots of light in the darkness. At least she knew where it was. She slowly drew the percussion cannon out of the holster on her right hip and held it casually by her side. Her favourite weapon. It could swat away an elephant, or punch a hole in a tank if she chose. She flicked the intensity switch with her thumb. If it came at them, it would have to run across the moonlit road. She would have plenty of time to fell it with a massive sonic blow, then dispose of it if that was necessary.
Then suddenly, there was a massive commotion from the direction of the animal… thing, whatever. There were shouts, a few flashes of light, and an unholy racket from the creature. In the midst of this, a shadow detached itself from the trees on their side of the road and started towards them. Sylvie’s attention was riveted upon the noise but Aria remained alert to her surroundings as she had been taught.
As the shadow drew close, Aria swung round straight-armed and pointed the percussion cannon into the face of the young man standing beside them.
Episode 2: Vincent
“Hello Ms Stewart” said the young man at whom she was pointing her gun. He raised his bare hands slowly in the universal ‘I’m unarmed’ gesture. His rifle hung at his back. She wasn't fooled into thinking unarmed meant harmless, but was re-assured by his greeting and his Special Division badge. She lowered the percussion cannon and shoved it in back in its holster on her right hip. She smiled at him. “Thanks for coming to our rescue.”
He grinned back. “Didn’t look like you needed it. “ He looked down at Sylvie, a concerned look on his face. Poor Sylvie was boggling up at Aria as if seeing her for the first time. Aria sympathized. She couldn't quite believe what had just happened either. They must look like a B movie poster with Aria standing protectively over Sylvie and Sylvie clinging to Aria’s hand. Sylvie looked suddenly embarrassed and let go.
Aria looked back towards the dark woods, trying to look vaguely puzzled, as if she could not make out much. She watched as an athletic young man and woman in fatigues wrestled something heavy tangled in a net out from the undergrowth. A utility appeared silently from round the bend of the road, with one man driving and another sitting beside him. It stopped and they got out, looking down at the thing in the net. The man and woman took the ends of the net and slung it into the back of the utility, with the newcomers’ assistance. It was obviously heavy. The driver gave it a couple of pokes with a silvery gun that he pulled from his belt. The other man looked at him disapprovingly and he desisted.
Aria looked with interest at the driver. He was slightly taller than average, slim and broad-shouldered. He wore black with a sleeveless tank emphasising his broad shoulders. Aria bet that was deliberate. He had long wavy hair tied back from his face. The light was good enough for her to see that he had winged brows and slightly up-tilted eyes. So, he was an Alfar. He appeared to be unarmed apart from that silver pistol thrust into his belt. Aria wondered whimsically if it spat silver bullets. She shuddered. Better not go there. Not until they were indoors somewhere warm and brightly-lit.
The man who had been a passenger in the utility turned and walked towards Aria. He was of indeterminate age, dark-haired with a silver streak at the temple. He smiled at her, greeting her formally by bowing slightly in the Alfar fashion then extending his hand. “I'm Count St Yves, Commander of the local Special Division base. Your guardian Lady Bradamante told me you might be around here somewhere. I wasn't quite expecting to see you here tonight though.” She gripped his hand politely and smiled back.
“Well, Sylvie and I are glad you showed up. I was about to splatter whatever that was all over the road but it was un-nerving that’s for sure”. She hesitated, and then said “Can we get some-one to look at Sylvie? I’m sure her feet are in tatters”. Sylvie murmured a protest but Aria said firmly “Sylvie, they could get infected”.
The young man they had first encountered bent down beside Sylvie and said “Put your arms around my neck. It’ll be easier to carry you”. Sylvie reluctantly did so and he rose carefully saying, “There’s another utility around the bend. We can all fit in that one”.
The Count gestured at the three standing across the road. The driver jumped behind the controls of the utility and the other two leapt into the back beside the … thing. He took off like a rocket, the two in the back gripping the vehicle sides. They were obviously used to his driving style.
The Count looked at them. “What happened? Why were you both out here?”
Sylvie looked very embarrassed. “It’s my fault”, she said. “I had a nightmare… when… when I woke up I was here. Somehow I knew that thing was here… I was so scared.” This was a whisper.
“What’s your name?”
“Sylvie Chirac”. The two men exchanged an enigmatic look. “That’s my name too” said the young man. “Chirac, I mean” he grinned. “My name is Vincent.”
He grinned back. “Didn’t look like you needed it. “ He looked down at Sylvie, a concerned look on his face. Poor Sylvie was boggling up at Aria as if seeing her for the first time. Aria sympathized. She couldn't quite believe what had just happened either. They must look like a B movie poster with Aria standing protectively over Sylvie and Sylvie clinging to Aria’s hand. Sylvie looked suddenly embarrassed and let go.
Aria looked back towards the dark woods, trying to look vaguely puzzled, as if she could not make out much. She watched as an athletic young man and woman in fatigues wrestled something heavy tangled in a net out from the undergrowth. A utility appeared silently from round the bend of the road, with one man driving and another sitting beside him. It stopped and they got out, looking down at the thing in the net. The man and woman took the ends of the net and slung it into the back of the utility, with the newcomers’ assistance. It was obviously heavy. The driver gave it a couple of pokes with a silvery gun that he pulled from his belt. The other man looked at him disapprovingly and he desisted.
Aria looked with interest at the driver. He was slightly taller than average, slim and broad-shouldered. He wore black with a sleeveless tank emphasising his broad shoulders. Aria bet that was deliberate. He had long wavy hair tied back from his face. The light was good enough for her to see that he had winged brows and slightly up-tilted eyes. So, he was an Alfar. He appeared to be unarmed apart from that silver pistol thrust into his belt. Aria wondered whimsically if it spat silver bullets. She shuddered. Better not go there. Not until they were indoors somewhere warm and brightly-lit.
The man who had been a passenger in the utility turned and walked towards Aria. He was of indeterminate age, dark-haired with a silver streak at the temple. He smiled at her, greeting her formally by bowing slightly in the Alfar fashion then extending his hand. “I'm Count St Yves, Commander of the local Special Division base. Your guardian Lady Bradamante told me you might be around here somewhere. I wasn't quite expecting to see you here tonight though.” She gripped his hand politely and smiled back.
“Well, Sylvie and I are glad you showed up. I was about to splatter whatever that was all over the road but it was un-nerving that’s for sure”. She hesitated, and then said “Can we get some-one to look at Sylvie? I’m sure her feet are in tatters”. Sylvie murmured a protest but Aria said firmly “Sylvie, they could get infected”.
The young man they had first encountered bent down beside Sylvie and said “Put your arms around my neck. It’ll be easier to carry you”. Sylvie reluctantly did so and he rose carefully saying, “There’s another utility around the bend. We can all fit in that one”.
The Count gestured at the three standing across the road. The driver jumped behind the controls of the utility and the other two leapt into the back beside the … thing. He took off like a rocket, the two in the back gripping the vehicle sides. They were obviously used to his driving style.
The Count looked at them. “What happened? Why were you both out here?”
Sylvie looked very embarrassed. “It’s my fault”, she said. “I had a nightmare… when… when I woke up I was here. Somehow I knew that thing was here… I was so scared.” This was a whisper.
“What’s your name?”
“Sylvie Chirac”. The two men exchanged an enigmatic look. “That’s my name too” said the young man. “Chirac, I mean” he grinned. “My name is Vincent.”
Episode 3: The Chateau
“Time to go” the Commander said and led them down the road to where the utility was parked. This had wheels, unlike the utility that had taken off with the beastie, so the ride along the unpaved country road was a bit rough. Sylvie drooped against Aria, occasionally jerking awake at a particularly harsh jolt. Vincent was obviously driving carefully, but wheeled vehicles no longer generally used these roads. He turned down a narrow lane that she had not noticed when they arrived at the orchard by worker shuttle from the recruiting centre in the near-by town. After negotiating this tortuous path for some time they emerged onto a better-kept road that dead-ended at a high stone wall. A vehicle gate opened for them, activated by a signal from the vehicle. There had been no sign at all of the other vehicle. If there was security, and Aria was sure that there was, it was very discreet indeed. They drove down a carriageway towards a complex of buildings that were obviously garages and stables. Vincent passed them by and headed towards the rear entrance of the stone mansion beyond.
The Commander had not spoken to them during the journey; it was too difficult to converse with anyone in the rear of the vehicle. Vincent drove slowly towards a door that was open and spilling warm light out into the night. Aria had noted the Commander using a comm’s device during the journey. She was sure they were expected. Sure enough, as soon as Vincent stopped the vehicle, other people promptly appeared, lifting Sylvie out without any protest from her and moving smartly into the house. Aria followed St Ives inside, now feeling very weary herself. She looked enquiringly at him and he assured her that Sylvie was being attended to and that she could see her as soon as the medic was finished. He took her arm and steered towards a large kitchen.
They could hear the others arriving at the back entrance.
He hesitated for a moment. “How much did you see?”
“Of the animal?” He nodded.
“It was tangled in the net, but I could tell it wasn't a natural animal. It looked like a large hyena with an oversize head.”
“Ah”.
“Don’t worry, thanks to Father I’m well aware that some rogue labs are producing strange animals for private zoos. I won’t say anything, particularly to Sylvie! I’ll tell her it would have been an escapee from a private collection. She won’t ask if it was natural or not!”
“Ah yes, Sylvie. I would very much like to talk to that young woman in the morning. No, no reason for alarm” he said in response to her look. “Just some speculation on my part. But that can wait until morning”.
He continued into the kitchen and sat her down at a large table. A woman standing by the stove immediately came over and asked if she was hungry. Aria, smilingly agreed that she was indeed very hungry. The others arrived in the kitchen and piled around the table, looking curiously at Aria.
“She knows” St Ives said wryly. “This is Ms Aria Stewart. Her father is Mr Stewart of Stewart Research, doing work for Special Division. You can talk freely about what happened tonight.” But not, thought Aria, about anything else. Fair enough.
He introduced the others briefly by their personal names rather than their military rank. She stood politely during the introductions regardless of their informality.
The younger human (she assumed) man was of course Vincent. He still had a faint air of youth about him. She thought he must be only about nineteen, the same age as Sylvie and herself. His membership in the Special Division armed forces section would then be quite extra-ordinary.
Rebecca and Rex might be anywhere between twenty-five and fifty. The commander himself was of that long indeterminate stretch of middle years and could be anything between fifty and one-twenty. She wondered how long it would take for her herself to lose the glow of youth. That was her biggest secret. Thanks to her birth mother’s heritage and Father’s gift to her, she might live to twice the average lifespan of a human – the lifespan of an Alfar.
The Alfar himself looked youthful, but that meant little. Heaven knew how old he was really. He was introduced as Griffin of Albion. Albion huh? She could practice her Brynnr diplomacy skills on him. She bowed and murmured an Alfar greeting. When he smiled and responded in kind she spotted the slightly elongated canines that were the trademark of Albion. They did not detract from his appearance but certainly gave his handsome face an edge.
Soon they were all tucking into a large country meal and talking and laughing about the chase. The hunters home from the hunt, thought Aria. Yes, that’s exactly what it was.
The younger man – Vincent, asked her about the weapon she had pointed at him, and she took it out and laid it on the table. It’s a percussion cannon, she told them. “It’s tiny!” exclaimed Rebecca. “Pocket size for travel” grinned Aria. “My co-guardian is paranoid about my safety and Father lets her arm me to the teeth. But I admit I haven’t had to use it very often. I was glad to have it tonight though! I was preparing to squash that thing flat the moment it tried to rush us!” None of them appeared concerned at the thought of the beast being squashed as they all grinned at her remark.
A short while later she sat back, feeling much better for her meal. She stood and took her dishes over to the sink, pausing to smile and compliment the cook.
A man in a medic’s uniform appeared at the door and asked her to accompany him. She nodded goodnight at everyone, and turned to follow him down several corridors before coming to a small room where Sylvie was tucked up into a bed. She was asleep.
“She’s had her feet cleaned and bandaged. It would be better if you were here when she woke. The Commander has asked if you can stay with her tonight?” She nodded. He smiled. “Thank you. Some one will call for you at six. Good night”. He closed the door.
She wondered if it were being locked from the outside. Well, it wouldn't be sensible or polite to go wandering around a military base during the night anyway, even it did look like a comfortable 17th century mansion.
She removed her clothes; laid them neatly at the foot of the bed, and prepared to sleep soundly for what little remained of the night. Tomorrow could take care of itself.
The Commander had not spoken to them during the journey; it was too difficult to converse with anyone in the rear of the vehicle. Vincent drove slowly towards a door that was open and spilling warm light out into the night. Aria had noted the Commander using a comm’s device during the journey. She was sure they were expected. Sure enough, as soon as Vincent stopped the vehicle, other people promptly appeared, lifting Sylvie out without any protest from her and moving smartly into the house. Aria followed St Ives inside, now feeling very weary herself. She looked enquiringly at him and he assured her that Sylvie was being attended to and that she could see her as soon as the medic was finished. He took her arm and steered towards a large kitchen.
They could hear the others arriving at the back entrance.
He hesitated for a moment. “How much did you see?”
“Of the animal?” He nodded.
“It was tangled in the net, but I could tell it wasn't a natural animal. It looked like a large hyena with an oversize head.”
“Ah”.
“Don’t worry, thanks to Father I’m well aware that some rogue labs are producing strange animals for private zoos. I won’t say anything, particularly to Sylvie! I’ll tell her it would have been an escapee from a private collection. She won’t ask if it was natural or not!”
“Ah yes, Sylvie. I would very much like to talk to that young woman in the morning. No, no reason for alarm” he said in response to her look. “Just some speculation on my part. But that can wait until morning”.
He continued into the kitchen and sat her down at a large table. A woman standing by the stove immediately came over and asked if she was hungry. Aria, smilingly agreed that she was indeed very hungry. The others arrived in the kitchen and piled around the table, looking curiously at Aria.
“She knows” St Ives said wryly. “This is Ms Aria Stewart. Her father is Mr Stewart of Stewart Research, doing work for Special Division. You can talk freely about what happened tonight.” But not, thought Aria, about anything else. Fair enough.
He introduced the others briefly by their personal names rather than their military rank. She stood politely during the introductions regardless of their informality.
The younger human (she assumed) man was of course Vincent. He still had a faint air of youth about him. She thought he must be only about nineteen, the same age as Sylvie and herself. His membership in the Special Division armed forces section would then be quite extra-ordinary.
Rebecca and Rex might be anywhere between twenty-five and fifty. The commander himself was of that long indeterminate stretch of middle years and could be anything between fifty and one-twenty. She wondered how long it would take for her herself to lose the glow of youth. That was her biggest secret. Thanks to her birth mother’s heritage and Father’s gift to her, she might live to twice the average lifespan of a human – the lifespan of an Alfar.
The Alfar himself looked youthful, but that meant little. Heaven knew how old he was really. He was introduced as Griffin of Albion. Albion huh? She could practice her Brynnr diplomacy skills on him. She bowed and murmured an Alfar greeting. When he smiled and responded in kind she spotted the slightly elongated canines that were the trademark of Albion. They did not detract from his appearance but certainly gave his handsome face an edge.
Soon they were all tucking into a large country meal and talking and laughing about the chase. The hunters home from the hunt, thought Aria. Yes, that’s exactly what it was.
The younger man – Vincent, asked her about the weapon she had pointed at him, and she took it out and laid it on the table. It’s a percussion cannon, she told them. “It’s tiny!” exclaimed Rebecca. “Pocket size for travel” grinned Aria. “My co-guardian is paranoid about my safety and Father lets her arm me to the teeth. But I admit I haven’t had to use it very often. I was glad to have it tonight though! I was preparing to squash that thing flat the moment it tried to rush us!” None of them appeared concerned at the thought of the beast being squashed as they all grinned at her remark.
A short while later she sat back, feeling much better for her meal. She stood and took her dishes over to the sink, pausing to smile and compliment the cook.
A man in a medic’s uniform appeared at the door and asked her to accompany him. She nodded goodnight at everyone, and turned to follow him down several corridors before coming to a small room where Sylvie was tucked up into a bed. She was asleep.
“She’s had her feet cleaned and bandaged. It would be better if you were here when she woke. The Commander has asked if you can stay with her tonight?” She nodded. He smiled. “Thank you. Some one will call for you at six. Good night”. He closed the door.
She wondered if it were being locked from the outside. Well, it wouldn't be sensible or polite to go wandering around a military base during the night anyway, even it did look like a comfortable 17th century mansion.
She removed her clothes; laid them neatly at the foot of the bed, and prepared to sleep soundly for what little remained of the night. Tomorrow could take care of itself.
Photo credit: stock photo from Dreamstime.com.
Episode 4: Sylvie
At six, she was dressed and waiting when there was a soft tap at the door. She opened it to see Rebecca standing there smiling. She had their bags in her hands. Behind Aria, Sylvie stirred and sat up. “Bless you.” said Aria. “Our things!”
“Retrieved them this morning” said Rebecca. “The commander will have a word with the work supervisor, so there’ll be no alarm about your disappearance from the cabin. “
Aria was glad of that, although she imagined the supervisor would think it strange. Maybe they were used to that sort of thing around here?
“I’ll help you get Sylvie to the bathroom, then I think you both could do with some breakfast?” They both nodded enthusiastically. She smiled at Sylvie and introduced herself by name. Sylvie nodded shyly back. Aria turned to empty the bags onto her bed. Of course everything was mixed up, but all their possessions had all been retrieved. Sylvie limped hesitatingly from the bed, wincing as her feet took her weight. Aria and Rebecca helped her down the hall to a nearby bathroom, then Rebecca departed saying she’d back shortly to help Sylvie to the kitchen.
Sylvie looked much more cheerful after a short bath, and was dressed and was folding her nightgown when Rebecca reappeared with a wheelchair, looking triumphant. Aria had been tempted to tease Sylvie gently about such an old-fashioned garment when they had first occupied their shabby student digs, but she knew by then that a few clothes were all that Sylvie had left of her mother, so she did not. The nightgown was folded tenderly and placed into Sylvie’s carryall.
She looked askance at the wheelchair. “Come on Sylvie” said Aria. “I’m starving, and it’ll take ages for you to hobble to the kitchen!” Sylvie laughed and sat awkwardly in the wheelchair. She looked resigned. “Race you to the kitchen!” Aria winked at Rebecca. “No!” exclaimed Sylvie. Aria and Rebecca laughed and proceeded sedately towards the kitchen.
When they arrived at the kitchen, Rex, Vincent and Griffin were just departing. Rebecca left with them, saying they’d all meet again shortly no doubt.
Vincent seemed inclined to linger, and smiled down at Sylvie who smiled back. Rex clapped Vincent on the shoulder and drew him away. As they exited out the rear entrance, Aria and Sylvie could hear him protest laughingly at something one of the others had said.
After they had breakfasted, a middle-aged woman in a discreet suit looking almost like a uniform appeared and asked them to accompany her to the Commander’s office. She escorted them into the office and then left, shutting the door quietly behind her.
The girls looked at the Commander. After wishing them a good morning, he asked Sylvie how she was feeling. Then after a short pause, he said “May I ask you about your background?”
Sylvie looked mystified. Somehow Aria was not.
“There isn't much to tell,” she said. “My mother was Veronique Chirac. She never told me about my father. We moved around a lot. Then… last year… she died. Why, do you think you might know something about me?”
“I do,” he said. “But I want to be sure. My medic took a blood sample from you last night. Would you mind if we did an identity trace on you?”
Sylvie nodded permission and thumbed the release form that the Commander produced. She was eager to know what would come of the trace. Her mother had been very reticent about the past, and became distressed when Sylvie tried to press her. Then last year, suddenly it was too late to ask questions. He spoke into the desk comm-unit and asked the medic to proceed with the trace.
He started asking them about their studies at Marais University. Aria was majoring in non-human history and political science courses. “My Lady Mother is determined that I end up a Brynnr diplomat.” Aria herself wasn't sure it was exciting enough for her, though she wondered on Mother’s insistence on all the self-defence training when she’d be surrounded by security anyway. What did Lady Bradamante know that she didn't?
Sylvie was doing a melange of courses that could have been done at any university in France. Again Aria wondered; why Marais? Why had her mother wanted to go there, and nowhere else?
The desk comm-unit bleeped and St Ives excused himself and spoke briefly to the medic.
He smiled at Sylvie. “It is confirmed. You are indeed the daughter of Jacques Chirac, a member of the Chirac branch of the St Ives clan. Welcome to the family.”
“Retrieved them this morning” said Rebecca. “The commander will have a word with the work supervisor, so there’ll be no alarm about your disappearance from the cabin. “
Aria was glad of that, although she imagined the supervisor would think it strange. Maybe they were used to that sort of thing around here?
“I’ll help you get Sylvie to the bathroom, then I think you both could do with some breakfast?” They both nodded enthusiastically. She smiled at Sylvie and introduced herself by name. Sylvie nodded shyly back. Aria turned to empty the bags onto her bed. Of course everything was mixed up, but all their possessions had all been retrieved. Sylvie limped hesitatingly from the bed, wincing as her feet took her weight. Aria and Rebecca helped her down the hall to a nearby bathroom, then Rebecca departed saying she’d back shortly to help Sylvie to the kitchen.
Sylvie looked much more cheerful after a short bath, and was dressed and was folding her nightgown when Rebecca reappeared with a wheelchair, looking triumphant. Aria had been tempted to tease Sylvie gently about such an old-fashioned garment when they had first occupied their shabby student digs, but she knew by then that a few clothes were all that Sylvie had left of her mother, so she did not. The nightgown was folded tenderly and placed into Sylvie’s carryall.
She looked askance at the wheelchair. “Come on Sylvie” said Aria. “I’m starving, and it’ll take ages for you to hobble to the kitchen!” Sylvie laughed and sat awkwardly in the wheelchair. She looked resigned. “Race you to the kitchen!” Aria winked at Rebecca. “No!” exclaimed Sylvie. Aria and Rebecca laughed and proceeded sedately towards the kitchen.
When they arrived at the kitchen, Rex, Vincent and Griffin were just departing. Rebecca left with them, saying they’d all meet again shortly no doubt.
Vincent seemed inclined to linger, and smiled down at Sylvie who smiled back. Rex clapped Vincent on the shoulder and drew him away. As they exited out the rear entrance, Aria and Sylvie could hear him protest laughingly at something one of the others had said.
After they had breakfasted, a middle-aged woman in a discreet suit looking almost like a uniform appeared and asked them to accompany her to the Commander’s office. She escorted them into the office and then left, shutting the door quietly behind her.
The girls looked at the Commander. After wishing them a good morning, he asked Sylvie how she was feeling. Then after a short pause, he said “May I ask you about your background?”
Sylvie looked mystified. Somehow Aria was not.
“There isn't much to tell,” she said. “My mother was Veronique Chirac. She never told me about my father. We moved around a lot. Then… last year… she died. Why, do you think you might know something about me?”
“I do,” he said. “But I want to be sure. My medic took a blood sample from you last night. Would you mind if we did an identity trace on you?”
Sylvie nodded permission and thumbed the release form that the Commander produced. She was eager to know what would come of the trace. Her mother had been very reticent about the past, and became distressed when Sylvie tried to press her. Then last year, suddenly it was too late to ask questions. He spoke into the desk comm-unit and asked the medic to proceed with the trace.
He started asking them about their studies at Marais University. Aria was majoring in non-human history and political science courses. “My Lady Mother is determined that I end up a Brynnr diplomat.” Aria herself wasn't sure it was exciting enough for her, though she wondered on Mother’s insistence on all the self-defence training when she’d be surrounded by security anyway. What did Lady Bradamante know that she didn't?
Sylvie was doing a melange of courses that could have been done at any university in France. Again Aria wondered; why Marais? Why had her mother wanted to go there, and nowhere else?
The desk comm-unit bleeped and St Ives excused himself and spoke briefly to the medic.
He smiled at Sylvie. “It is confirmed. You are indeed the daughter of Jacques Chirac, a member of the Chirac branch of the St Ives clan. Welcome to the family.”
Episode 4: New beginnings
Sylvie woke in the grey light of pre-dawn. She turned over, and looked at the other bed. Empty. Again.
Aria must have fallen asleep in Griffin’s bed. She’d better hurry if she wanted to make it back to her own before the base started stirring. Bed-hopping was not unknown here, but it was considered bad manners to make it obvious. At that moment, the door opened quietly and Aria tiptoed inside.
She had awakened suddenly, finding him looking down at her. “Why do humans need so much sleep?” he murmured. “You look so vulnerable…” implying that humans were in this regard, vastly inferior to Alfar.
“Plotting to take over the world. Oh, wait” she looked limpidly up at him. “Done that. Next, the Universe”. He’d pinched her in annoyance, and she’d laughed and got up. Heh. Bullseye.
“Cutting it fine, Missy!” said Sylvie.
Aria grinned, and slipped into her own bed for a few more minutes sleep. “Be sure to wake me at six,” she said, and then turned over and slipped easily into sleep.
The second it was six a.m. Sylvie bounced out of bed and shook Aria awake. Aria yawned and stretched. Good thing she was getting used to being rudely awakened. Aria did like her sleep, but once awake was fully alert. Sylvie on the other hand had to be practically dragged out of bed. Not this morning though.
Sylvie was fizzing and sparkling like a fireworks display. Today was the big day. Tonight there would be a huge party at the St Ives chateau to welcome Sylvie back to the family. Chiracs and St Ives from far and wide were coming. All the base personnel except those on active duty would be there as well.
Sylvie had already been introduced to her grandparents. Vincent, who turned out to be a distant cousin, had taken her and Aria to meet them at their home in the near-by town; ironically the town in which they had been recruited to work in the orchard. There had been hugs and kisses, exclamations over how much Sylvie resembled her father, and a few tears as well. Granpere and Granmere had wanted her to move in with them immediately but St Ives had persuaded them to let her remain at the chateau while Aria was his guest. Very soon, at the end of the summer break, Aria would return to Marais University alone. Sylvie was not returning. Marais had served its purpose – to bring Sylvie into contact with people like herself. Irony indeed that that contact had served to return her to her family.
Sylvie’s father had been killed in action during a local mission. He was a good operative; it was simply bad luck. Soon after the funeral, his wife had fled with baby Sylvie, and the family had been unable to trace her beyond the first few of her movements.
Sylvie’s nightmares were the stirrings of the family’s natural talent. They specialized in the hunting and capture of malignant beings, sentient and animal. They’d been quietly on the government payroll for more than a century, and their residence in the area was one of the reasons for the establishment of a small Special Division base, headquartered in the family head’s chateau. She would soon begin her training to become a tracker.
Aria had been embarrassed by Vincent’s vivid recount of her defence of Sylvie. Apparently the tale was spreading like wildfire amongst the family. It was probably growing somewhat in the re-telling. She smiled to her-self. During childhood she’d been prone to declaring loudly “I’m Aria Stewart, diplomat extraordinaire and Special Forces undercover agent!” Mother would press her fingertips against her temples in a pained fashion. “Aria, you look yourself in the mirror and say that out loud.” She’d had no trouble back then, but now the thought nearly made her burst out laughing.
Soon after conveying Aria and Sylvie to her grandparents, Vincent had gone off to meet with some of his friends and family in the town, declaring no interest in the planned shopping expedition for party outfits. He’d meet them at the end of the day to return them to the base.
Aria must have fallen asleep in Griffin’s bed. She’d better hurry if she wanted to make it back to her own before the base started stirring. Bed-hopping was not unknown here, but it was considered bad manners to make it obvious. At that moment, the door opened quietly and Aria tiptoed inside.
She had awakened suddenly, finding him looking down at her. “Why do humans need so much sleep?” he murmured. “You look so vulnerable…” implying that humans were in this regard, vastly inferior to Alfar.
“Plotting to take over the world. Oh, wait” she looked limpidly up at him. “Done that. Next, the Universe”. He’d pinched her in annoyance, and she’d laughed and got up. Heh. Bullseye.
“Cutting it fine, Missy!” said Sylvie.
Aria grinned, and slipped into her own bed for a few more minutes sleep. “Be sure to wake me at six,” she said, and then turned over and slipped easily into sleep.
The second it was six a.m. Sylvie bounced out of bed and shook Aria awake. Aria yawned and stretched. Good thing she was getting used to being rudely awakened. Aria did like her sleep, but once awake was fully alert. Sylvie on the other hand had to be practically dragged out of bed. Not this morning though.
Sylvie was fizzing and sparkling like a fireworks display. Today was the big day. Tonight there would be a huge party at the St Ives chateau to welcome Sylvie back to the family. Chiracs and St Ives from far and wide were coming. All the base personnel except those on active duty would be there as well.
Sylvie had already been introduced to her grandparents. Vincent, who turned out to be a distant cousin, had taken her and Aria to meet them at their home in the near-by town; ironically the town in which they had been recruited to work in the orchard. There had been hugs and kisses, exclamations over how much Sylvie resembled her father, and a few tears as well. Granpere and Granmere had wanted her to move in with them immediately but St Ives had persuaded them to let her remain at the chateau while Aria was his guest. Very soon, at the end of the summer break, Aria would return to Marais University alone. Sylvie was not returning. Marais had served its purpose – to bring Sylvie into contact with people like herself. Irony indeed that that contact had served to return her to her family.
Sylvie’s father had been killed in action during a local mission. He was a good operative; it was simply bad luck. Soon after the funeral, his wife had fled with baby Sylvie, and the family had been unable to trace her beyond the first few of her movements.
Sylvie’s nightmares were the stirrings of the family’s natural talent. They specialized in the hunting and capture of malignant beings, sentient and animal. They’d been quietly on the government payroll for more than a century, and their residence in the area was one of the reasons for the establishment of a small Special Division base, headquartered in the family head’s chateau. She would soon begin her training to become a tracker.
Aria had been embarrassed by Vincent’s vivid recount of her defence of Sylvie. Apparently the tale was spreading like wildfire amongst the family. It was probably growing somewhat in the re-telling. She smiled to her-self. During childhood she’d been prone to declaring loudly “I’m Aria Stewart, diplomat extraordinaire and Special Forces undercover agent!” Mother would press her fingertips against her temples in a pained fashion. “Aria, you look yourself in the mirror and say that out loud.” She’d had no trouble back then, but now the thought nearly made her burst out laughing.
Soon after conveying Aria and Sylvie to her grandparents, Vincent had gone off to meet with some of his friends and family in the town, declaring no interest in the planned shopping expedition for party outfits. He’d meet them at the end of the day to return them to the base.
Aria too would be celebrating a new beginning tonight.
Today, she and Griffin had been granted permission to enter into a formal betrothal. After the next semester at Marais, she and Griffin would travel to Brynnr for the formal celebrations; and then after her graduation from university a formal diplomatic wedding between Brynnr and Albion would take place at their embassies in London.
Count St Ives had helped them make the arrangements with Albion, Brynnr and Aria’s father. On the Count’s recommendation they had been provisionally accepted into Special Division diplomatic corps, which they would join after their marriage.
‘Aria Stewart, diplomat extraordinaire and Special Division undercover agent!’ Life was about to get interesting. Oh yes, very interesting indeed.
Today, she and Griffin had been granted permission to enter into a formal betrothal. After the next semester at Marais, she and Griffin would travel to Brynnr for the formal celebrations; and then after her graduation from university a formal diplomatic wedding between Brynnr and Albion would take place at their embassies in London.
Count St Ives had helped them make the arrangements with Albion, Brynnr and Aria’s father. On the Count’s recommendation they had been provisionally accepted into Special Division diplomatic corps, which they would join after their marriage.
‘Aria Stewart, diplomat extraordinaire and Special Division undercover agent!’ Life was about to get interesting. Oh yes, very interesting indeed.
The Count intended to follow their careers closely.
He was sure that Aria would become a polished diplomat and skilled undercover operative. Griffin was an interesting choice for her - for an Alfar he was remarkably undiplomatic. No, make that downright rude. And he was a shoot-first; interrogate the bodies later kind of guy.
This would be interesting....
He was sure that Aria would become a polished diplomat and skilled undercover operative. Griffin was an interesting choice for her - for an Alfar he was remarkably undiplomatic. No, make that downright rude. And he was a shoot-first; interrogate the bodies later kind of guy.
This would be interesting....
Photo credit: stock photo from Dreamstime.com.