BeyHop Chpt 15

==Beyond Hope- Chapter 15 - Winter Movements==
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===Scars we keep inside and out===
Tharkad City
Tharkad, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3054
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The expected awkwardness was somehow made more bizarre than threatening. Gagnon's is a location in one of the most high-rent areas of the Capital. There is no parking here, the sidewalk itself is wider than the street-on each side, and the establishment is tucked into a doorway with a security fence over the door, which is blank with only the street number, and a call button.
Not even a proper sign.
"You're sure we're at the right place?" Helena asked uneasily.
"Yep." Liz nodded, as she pressed the call button.
The door behind the security grate opened, and a tall blonde-and she was blonde the way a cartoon illustrator might picture it, and 'she' the way only a cartoonist in his early twenties with raging issues would draw one, retracted the secure gate.
"ELIZABETHE!! You've come to Gagnon!!" The cartoon caricature of a supermodel was almost stunningly artificial looking, while still being organic.
"And you've brought a GUEST!!" everything so exaggerated…"Come IN! Come IN!!"
Helena hesitated for a second before going in.
"Magritte! Sophie!! We have CUSTOMERS!!!"
Two more of them. Same exaggerated image, like they'd come from a factory serving teenage boys.
"You're scaring her, Margot!" the dark haired one scolded their greeter, "Elizabeth, it is good to see you, and who is your friend?"
"Helena, these three are 'gagnon'." Elizabeth said, "though there's a guy who works here too."
“Hello.” Helena smiled weakly.
"Ladies, this is Helena Drillson, she's a guest of Her Majesty under a previous name." Elizabeth said formally, presenting the offprints.
"Oh my! A proper guest of Her Majesty!" The redhead, by definition, was Magritte. "You have no other appointments, I trust, Elizabete?" (pronounced "Ee-liz-A-Beet-ey")
"Not today."
"Gut, Gut… Spa treatments first, followed by your sizing, and then we can begin with outfit design and selection! You promise to be good this time?"
"I promise I won't punch anyone." Liz said. "You might want to verify Helena's limits before you get too grabby, she Will punch if it gets too intrusive." Elizabeth's comment didn't SOUND like a joke, but it did trigger amused looks among the three ladies.
“I’ll do my best to restrain myself.” Helena nodded. “But as long as it doesn’t get too intense I should be fine.”
"Kommen, Kommon ze." They were led into the back through a showroom mostly composed of holocaps of Lyran nobility in outfits that cost as much, relative, as a dropship or even more.
"First, the bath!" 
Helena nodded as she looked for the changing area.
The 'changing area' turned out to be better appointed than some apartments, and for a moment, Helena felt a sad sense of familiarity-a memory of her pre-Amaris youth and some of the shops she'd been to with her sister.
She did her breathing exercise then stripped and wrapped herself in a towel.
Then, it was to the hot-tub. The soaps employed by Magritte, in this case, loofa and something that smelled faintly like some unrevealed flowers. The woman was professional in a sense that stripped away anything remotely intrusive. There was nothing sexual or even hinting at it about how the woman worked, just incredibly detailed and thorough. Even when she was cleaning near some of the scars that would still occasionally trouble her, Magritte’s hands were expert.
"Tsk, your nails…" Magritte noted as she worked on Helena's feet. "Long hours…well nothing that can't be remedied."
Helena caught a glimpse of what Elizabeth was going through- and saw the deformity of the younger girl's left knee. Scars and mis-healed damage that was bad enough to be visible.
We both have our scars… Inside and out. Helena reminded herself.
As Liz turned her back, the 'sucker' of a bullet scar showed, just to the right of her heart and just past the edge of the spine. A second such scar and the 'zipper' of knife-and-sewing surgery were also visible.
"You kept your scars." Magritte was saying, "That limits some of this year's styles."
"Not worth removing them." Helena heard Liz say. "Not like I'll ever wear a bikini where it might matter, and I don't have time for cosmetic surgery."
“Mine are part of me too.” Helena nodded.
The skin treatment Magritte applied was equally professional, whole body, and vigorous. Almost like a pre-massage.
"We get a lot of military visitors." Magritte told Helena, "Usually recently elevated from the Mercenary community, or old families whose sons and daughters have chosen a military life, but still must present properly in royal court. Many of them feel their scars are part of them, it is not unusual, nor unacceptable, simply one more customer condition for us to meet…there you are, all clean, time for your massage, and then, your hair."
“Yeah.” Helena nodded. “They have been with me for a long time now.”
The massage was done as thoroughly as the cleaning-more thoroughly, as Magritte seemed to find aches that Helena had forgotten she even had, then worked them away.
“Mmmm… It’s been a while since I felt this good.”
"You have so much stress, Lady Helena." Magritte agreed, as she found another spot of tension and worked it out. "It is not healthy, you know, to bottle up so much."
“I try. I even send letters to my therapist to help me work through things. But my issues have been with me a long time too.”
"Hmm…" another knot of tension eased. There was something about how these high-priced…servants? Skilled artisans? Worked, never getting intrusive, never showing anything but what was needed.
Part of Helena's mind reflected that they must have training in handling trauma victims.
"How did you get into this?"
"I began, working as a therapist for the Commonwealth Medical corps, but this job, it is much better paying and nicer conditions." Magritte answered. "Many of the same patients though. It's nice that I still get to work with non-military people too now."
“I see. I appreciate the kid gloves.” Helena grunted as Magritte put pressure into her back.
"All part of the service."
From massage, to measurements. This took all three for each of them, and included measurements where most tailors and seamstresses don't-except for the very expensive ones.
"While Henri compiles your physical statistics, it is time for hair and nails!" Margot explained, while Magritte prepared a pair of reclining lounges, Helena smelled food in the air, "and Lunch!"
'Lunch' was finger food, fed to them like roman emperors while the nail techs worked on finger and toe-nails.
“Mmmm…” Helena enjoyed the food.
“You keep eating those you’ll gain weight again.” Elizabeth chided.
“Maybe I want to fill out a little. Make myself less desirable to all the young noblemen.” Helena countered.
"Heh. you mean you'll stop being a toothpick." Liz teased.
"Says the girl who eats a half-cup of rice a day!"
"I eat more than that!!"
"I've never seen it."
"I'm eating all the time!" Elizabeth insisted. "Just…small stuff…"
"Coffee is not a food group."
“Junk food addict.” Elizabeth shot back. “Which I eat half of yours!”
"I know! Fedburger, You barely let me have a bite!"
"You had one!"
“I believe this is the part where if we had pillows we’d be having an epic pillow fight.” Helena laughed.
"Only in a movie, I would totally lose in a pillow fight, you've got like five centimeters reach on me and you can do footwork without needing a cane!"
“Ah but if it’s a proper pillow fight we’d be on a bed and already in reach of each other.”
"Like I said, 'in a movie'." Liz noted, then winced. "Ow." her nail tech grimaced, "ingrown, shhh, it's better now."
Helena’s was working away at her calluses.
"Lady Helena, you do take good care of yourself." Magritte noted, "unlike your friend, who seems to delight in finding new ways to abuse herself. Lady Doons was flabberghasted the first time she brought Elizabete here-the girl had foot fungus from lack of proper care!"
“Yeah. I do self care. It’s part of my recovery.” Helena felt herself melding into the chair.
There was another wash, and then, Magritte began with adjusting the chair, and Helena felt the beginnings of a hair-washing.
"Lovely hair…" Magritte commented, "very thick, and strong."
“My head was the one thing they never touched and they allowed me to bathe.” Helena didn’t know why she was sharing that detail.
Meanwhile Helena could hear the sounds of Magritte working the tangles and matts out of Elizabeth's hair, the younger girl occasionally slipping with grunts and curses.
“That settles it. If you’re not even going to properly brush your hair, I’ll do it for you.” Helena chuckled.
"I can do it myself, I just don't have the time. Maybe I should just shave it off!"
“Image Elizabeth. Make the time. You need to present yourself as someone who does take the time for the small things. It’ll give you an edge in negotiation.”
"Now you sound like Lady Doons!" Elizabeth accused.
“That's because she isn't wrong!"
Magritte chimed in, "Helmet hair, you've been spending days in a suit, ja?"
Elizabeth's tone changed, "yeah….days and days."
Magrot glanced toward Helena, "she has a new scar on her scalp too! No more than six months old!"
"New one? Or the old one?" Magritte inquired.
"New., just above the hair-line. I would say concussion."
"Well??" Helena pressed.
"Bathroom sink three weeks ago, during the overnight at Gibbs." Liz admitted, "I broke my toothbrush…"
“Elizabeth… Think of it this way, being upfront with us and letting us help will actually cost you less time than trying to hide things from us.” Helena said.
"How long, Elizabete?" Magritte asked.
"Clock said two minutes."
"When did it start?" Helena demanded.
"Inarcs." Liz said, "nothing over two minutes so far, so it's still stage one. Doc's given me a new medication to keep it under control…which is why I dropped out of flying classes and didn't take the wheel when we were driving in front of the Palace."
It dawned on Helena, "You know?"
Magritte sighed, "We presumed YOU would know, if discretion were violated…"
"Not a problem. Her Majesty's going to make me sit in Hospital for weeks after the Ball." Liz mentioned. "That pretty much officially outs me."
“I’m sorry Elizabeth. I’ll be there as much as I can but I imagine the Archon will have competing requests that I’ll have to honor.” Helena frowned.
Henri finally made his appearance. He was a slight, balding man in a turtleneck suit with actual spectacles.
"Ladies, the floor please." 
Helena nodded as she took her place.
He began with holoimages of Helena in a variety of outfits she'd never worn, or owned, or in some cases, contemplated.
Whoever did the work on the imager was clearly a genius.
"What are you using to process?" she asked.
"Trade secrets." He told her. "You're new, so we can begin with your description of what image you would like to present. Elizabeth has already chosen hers…unless there is a change?"
"No change." Liz said, "Same as before, it's a brand now."
He frowned, "Margot, present possible options, please, to Lady Ngo, make certain you get her full commentary on each, including the ones she chooses to reject, for future reference."
"Jawolh Henri, Lady Ngo, this way please?"
"My process is slightly different from the rack-hounds up Katrinastrasse, I like to keep a full record of a client's choices in case they wish to amend later, as well as to know what not to display on future visits."
“Well I’m certainly impressed. I’m thinking a proper suit. Simple white silk button up shirt, Black Outershirt with brass fittings. Black slacks and something comfortable but strappy for shoes.” Helena nodded.
"Similar to Duchess Ngo's choices then, though she likely will choose a black half-cape and tall hat." Henri noted.
“She is my Duchess, so it is expected I sport a similar style.”
"Then we shalt begin with exactly how black? Which shade? And the shade of 'white' that best compliments your complexion and style."
“As space, maybe with very faint midnight purple stripping with very faint reflective properties.”
As she spoke, the model began to morph, shift, and change.
“Yeah it should be barely visible and even then only up close. There. I think that one.” Helena nodded at a top and pants combo.
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===Catching up with Old Friends at a Party===
Royal Palace, The Triad
Tharkad, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
December 25th, 3054
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The Archon's Christmas Ball
…well, it's the social event of the year, even counting Her Majesty's birthday.
Parking was so crowded, that Liz had the driver take the company car back to the ducal residence instead of finding a space, leaving Helena,Jakob, Moshe, Pol Nguyen, and Corpsman Nghien to walk from the turnout to the doors under the glare of thousands of Photographers, Holographers, net-Casters, and Journalists.
Image is worn like armor, when you can't wear armor, and Helena caught herself doing as her tutors once taught, giving the crowd a slight wave and looking far, far, far, more confident than she actually felt.
By contrast, the Duchess kept her eyes firmly ahead, limping and leaning on a different cane-this one of Bluewood and Silver, matched to a reddish-black tuxedo-style outfit complete with string tie and top-hat over hair worn loose and shoulder-length. Not quite the sober business suit Elizabeth's daily wear, and not quite a contrast to Helena's much more formal business suit.
In a way, the girl looked almost Villainous, like some nineteenth century monster from the mind of Dickens, while Helena bore the look of a classic mafia Don from the old holovids depicting 1920’s North America.
The boys had gotten fitted at Gerschwin und Sonne, a men's outfitter specialized in equipping security personnel for formal events, they had their 'bodyguard passes' ready to present to the gate-guards, and the expedited searches for weapons that were 'off list', to assure the only arms they bore were already registered with the Royal Guard's protective detail.
"Stick close to Helena, she needs the support." Elizabeth Ngo cautioned their entourage, "Keep space around her.""What about you?"
Liz shrugged, tapped forward, "I don't need the help." she said.
Reputation separated most of the aware ones. Very few recently ascended nobles have a rep for getting away with killing.
Even when it's technically their legal right. There aren't a lot of killers here, and the ones who are, aren't the ones who are staring at her.
"No school rag?" a young man in Nagelring blues asked.
"No school." Liz deflected, turning to meet his eyes, "Let's see, Nagelring, freshman year…you've got your father's nose and your mother's chin, you must be Arthur."
"Cane, everyone is silently avoiding you except for your entourage, black suit-though the tux tails look is new, no makeup…you must be Elizabeth Ngo." he countered, "The elbar wood cane is a nifty touch."
"Are we doing the bullying thing?" Liz asked
"Um, please don't? I get enough of that from my brothers..?" he said casually.
Elizabeth laughed, and it wasn't forced. "Perturbations in bose-einstein condensate under ultraviolet Laser rays in a vacuum?"
"Guilty!" Arthur Steiner-Davion admitted, "I wrote that-well, I had help from Team Banzai….I didn't think anyone read it."
"I have a copy, a friend forwarded it to me as a ploy to get me to end Ngo Industries boycott of Federated Suns manufacturers….shouldn't you be in NAIS whites?"
He nodded, "if I were going there, yeah." he confirmed. "I'm not. Kathy's going there and it's too difficult to prove I'm making good marks there on my own, or because my sister has the Regents wrapped around her pinky."
"The Nagelring's a good program for officers. My brother Patrick went there." Liz said idly. "Not so sure a budding scientist should be learning to soldier…"
He nodded, "It is kinda awkward…"
"I tried to test your results, but then the world exploded again." Liz told him, "We've set up a lab in the outer system and we've followed your layout exactly, problem being that I don't get to be there to play with it too."
"Did you have the tests run?"
"We got the same spectra you did." Elizabeth confirmed. "It's got some interesting potentials, but there feels like a gap in the formula, something we're missing."
"I know, My people think so too…" he told her. "I didn't know for sure you were interested, I mean, Mom pointed you out, showed me your seventh grade science fair presentation…"
"Cracking a Planet for less than Five hundred million Kroner?" she offered.
"That's the one." he agreed.
"Well, sir, I wasn't high when I did it, so it kinda doesn't count-I mean, I was recovering from a gunshot wound, but that's hardly the same as getting regularly fried-they disqualified it from the competition, if you know. The claim was I wasn't dong the work myself, the judges thought adding in the budget numbers would require an adult to do the heavy lifting."
"But you DID the lifting." he said.
"Yeah, but it's all hypothetical, nobody sane is willing to test it." Liz deflected, "and now I have to be responsible so I can't do it myself. Not that there's anywhere to test it that's worth the effort except maybe the Clanner Homeworlds-the places they spawn and respawn."
"But would you really?" he asked.
Elizabeth Ngo looked thoughtful. "No." she said, with a heavy sigh, "No, I wouldn't. It would be murder on a vast scale, I'd have to become a monster to do something like that."
"Me too." he told her, "You really commissioned an experimental verification?"
"I did. I'm hoping to publish our results, and your original paper, once I get my University off the 'planning and funding' stage and into the 'publishing and teaching' phase-we'll have a proper scientific journal and debates and everything!"
Arthur frowned, "Dad would've loved that. It's nice having NAIS, but having TWO research campuses to get us out from behind…"
"The Federated Suns lost a great leader there." Liz agreed.
"Not the Federated Commonwealth?" Arthur prodded.
"I'm one of those dirty nationalists, you probably are losing cred talking to me." she smirked.
"Or gaining it." he countered, "Uh, I'd ask for a dance but…"
She hefted the cane, "yeah, Not much of a dancer I'm afraid."
"So, want to go sit to the side and talk? Hang out I mean?"
"I'm with people." Liz deflected, "If you're okay hanging with my friends…"
He nodded, "yeah, it's got to be better than the usual…You're not going to try and set me up with anyone, are you? I mean, anyone else…"
"I thought I was awkward." she smiled at him, "come on, meet my friends, I think you'll like them. You can sit with me at the bad kids table."
By the time Elizabeth and Arthur reached 'the bad kids table' Daphne Rowe was chatting with Helena.
"DAFFY!" Liz groaned, "I was supposed to catch you first! Make all the intro-"
"And if I waited for that, you'd probably duck me for a smoke outside." Daphne hugged Liz, "Lady Helena's got the most interesting insights into the Amaris war, it's like she lived it! She's fascinating!"
"Helena, this is Arthur, he's brilliant, when he was in grade eleven he ran the most fascinating science experiment and published it…" Liz began. "I paid for a project to check his results in the outer system, and he's agreed to let me publish his original paper again, and our experiment verifying both his results, and new questions that they raise!"
Arthur blushed as Elizabeth praised what had been a vanity project in honor of his late Father.
"Liz, you know he's-"
"He's a scientist, we don't have enough real scientists." Elizabeth asserted, "even if he IS being wasted on soldiering for now, they'll have to let him go eventually!"
"Real Research always has made Lizzie excitable." Daphne confided. "She got me through calculus while we were in Hospital together."
"You could do it, you just had bad tutors." Liz defended her old friend. "They tried to tell you it was too hard. As if it were some kind of black magic, instead of observation on how the universe is really made!"
"Out of calculus?"
"Calculus…mathematics, is just the language to describe it." Liz told Arthur, "it's the words for things we don't have words for. The alphabet that spells out how things function, they're why your idea was correct, but they're not the cause-just how to understand the effect."
“So it is. Hello Arthur.” Helena smiled.
“Baroness Drillson.” Arthur nodded.
“Careful, she is convinced that your mom is going to try and set you up with her or Elizabeth.” Daphne giggled.
“Really?” Arthur suddenly seemed nervous.
“It is what my dad would have done. Create a bond with an troublesome family by marriage and you’re old enough that you should at least be betrothed to someone. So is your brother Peter. That you aren’t tells me your mother is playing the long game. I keep telling Elizabeth we should just marry each other to block that sort of ploy but she keeps thinking it’s about something other than creating a shield for either of us.” Helena answered.
“So you’re a history expert I hear?” Arthur gathered himself.
“After a fashion. The ship in orbit that has a lot of people’s undergarments all twisted up? It has quite the historical archive.” Helena smiled.
“Really?” boy asked.
“Careful, Helena, you keep this teasing up and you might achieve what you think the Archon wants all by yourself.” Elizabeth chuckled.
“Shit. You’re right. No offense Arthur. You seem delightfully geeky but short of the Archon arranging for me to marry someone, I’m just not interested in that sort of relationship right now.”
“It’s okay. I mean no offense either but you have like a decade on me. That would be super awkward.” Arthur shook his head. “It still kind of weirds me out when I think about the age difference between my parents before… well… you know.”
“I do, Arthur. I understand all too well.” Helena nodded sadly.
“That’s enough of the depressing crap.” Elizabeth interjected. “This is a party.”
“You’re right.” Daphne smiled. “I’m going to go see if I can find a barkeep that isn’t checking IDs as well as they should be and bring us back some drinks.”
“You still seem on edge, Baroness Drillson.” Arthur observed.
“Let’s just say I had a less than ideal teenage experience growing up that makes it hard for me to handle strangers, especially in groups. There’s a lot of strangers here.” Helena answered as she tugged at the collar of her undershirt.
“You need a break, Lady Ca…Drillson?” Jacob caught his miss-step a fraction of a second too late.
“Yeah, let’s step outside for a bit.” Helena nodded.
“Liz?” Arthur raised an eyebrow. “What the hell? Out with what the hell is happening right now.”
“Short version is your mom already knows what Jakob just let slip, that Drillson is an assumed name. The rest…” Elizabeth looked at Helena.
“Honestly at this point if half the Dukes and Duchesses haven’t already heard it by now I’d be really surprised. Sure most of them are dismissing it as rumor or some sort of propaganda piece or other non-sense but it’s already reached the level that people don’t doubt one thing, that Drillson is just an assumed name that isn’t challenged or questioned for social convention. The rest doesn’t matter unless your mother wants you to know.” Helena said as she got up and walked outside.
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===Reasons behind moves by the Crown===
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Outside didn’t first seem so bad, but then the icy winds hit the balcony.
"What do you see, Helena Cameron?" a cool voice asked, and Helena recognized the Archon herself.
“My breath freezing to my face.” Helena answered.
"Not what I meant, here-" a heavy fur-caped coat from Her Majesty's hand, "Look in the window, at your Duchess, what do you see?"
“She’s with her friends.”
"I am about to spend forty billion Kroner on her. Do you know why?" Archon Melissa Steiner-Davion asked.
“Because she has a vision and is one of the rare ones that just might be able to see it through.”
"Visionaries are a dime a dozen. Look closer, who's she with?"
“Your son and Daphne.”
"My son." Melissa stated, "Arthur has a gift, Helena. Unfortunately it comes with a curse. At my very best I can not grasp his interests, the interests that light him up, that are more than the, at this time, distant, polite, but sad and lonely boy he is." Melissa then passed Helena a warm, steaming cup, "She gets him. It's worth the price of a world, to find someone who understands my youngest son."
“You’re right that visionaries are common, it’s the ones like her that are rare. They can actually get it done. They actually understand. But outside their wheelhouse they do have their failings.”
"Yes, as do we all." Melissa said, "I intend for your duchess to survive, to last as long as Arthur needs her. I understand you have some interest in that as well. Lohengrin's reports show you've been more of a mother than the woman who whelped her, or at least, a friend, and advisor."
“I have grown quite close to her, I admit. She has done me nothing but kindness so I try to help her as much as I can.”
"Good, then I don't have to tell you what you need to do." Melissa asserted herself, "you'll do it anyway, which is a refreshing thing in these troubled times."
“I’ll make sure she keeps her word about seeking treatment. And I’ll keep her projects going. But ultimately I’m not her. I hope to god your medical professionals have managed to gather enough knowledge to cure her but I also fear that is wishful thinking.”
"I expect you to do what you think is right Helena." Melissa told her, "any more would be unreasonable, but we share goals in common here, we both want them happy and successful, which is all I would ever ask of anyone with whom I share a goal…and I don't like to lose. Be sure of that. There's a lot riding on this."
“I know. All the miracles I used to take for granted, so many of them are truly miracles now.”
"Then, Helena, we'll make our own, and surpass them." Melissa asserted, "if not us, then down the line from us."
“Yes. For the future generations.” Helena sipped the warm drink. Mulled wine? “This is an interesting choice of beverage.”
"It's traditional, it is, after all, Christmas." Melissa stated.
“So it is. Though I’m pretty sure my Doctor and Psychiatrist will have words for me for mixing alcohol and my meds again.” Helena stated.
“Helena, do you really think you have Doctor Patient confidentiality from me? It’s as low proof as possible to be considered mulled whine. So you’re safe.” Melissa smiled.
“No. You’d be a fool to not have Lohengrin reading my evals, letters, and everything else they can to see just who you’re dealing with. That you’re here talking with me like this tells me you’ve decided my traumas and how I react to certain triggers, they’re not objectionable to your goals. I don’t know if I’ll ever be whole again but I can keep myself together for a worthy mission and that is good enough for both of us it seems.”
“You’re more whole than you give yourself credit for Helena, but you are right. What you went through has changed you forever. How could it not? Still look at you and how far you’ve come. Come on. We should go back inside.” Melissa told her guest.
“Yes. I had my break. Time to go back to work.” Helena nodded.
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===Bolstering Courage===
“Arthur. Do be a dear and be Baroness Drillson’s dance partner for the formal dance. I know you’ll be a perfect gentleman.” Melissa said as they returned to the hall.
Helena had dreaded this part. She didn’t have a physical injury and no prior record of service. So the expectation would be for her to dance with someone at the formal dance.
“Yes, mother.”
As the band gave their cues that the formal dance was about to start they made their way to the dance floor.
“You look pale. Are you okay?” Arthur asked.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” Helena nodded.
She barely flinched as he touched her.
“You’re not fine.” Arthur declared.
“Fine enough to meet expectations.” Helena countered.
“You don’t…”
“Yes I do. Elizabeth can’t, I don’t have any injuries. I’m not ill.”
“I can feel you trying to pull away. You clearly don’t want to be here. I’m not forcing that or being a party to it. I’ll let my mother know and find another dance partner…”
“Too late.” Helena said as the band started up. “But thank you.”
Helena’s mind was still reeling from being in such close proximity to a strange man but his attempts to let her keep her distance and not force things was enough that she was able to dance with him, albeit very poorly.
As soon as the Waltz was over Helena did her best to keep herself from running, she figured she probably actually was despite her best efforts, and barely made it to the bathroom before she puked in a trash can.
“Son of a bitch.” Daphne said. “I’m going to give him what for.”
“Not his fault Daphne. It’s mine. He was a perfect gentleman.” Helena found herself sitting on the floor.
“You sick then?” Daphne asked.
“No. I’m not from Kowloon, or anywhere in that system.” Helena started.
“Duh.”
“Where I grew up, my brother hated me. Then he met someone who pretended to be his friend and it got worse. Before this supposed friend killed my brother he did things to me. Terrible things. He even passed me around to his supporters and most trusted guards. It was fairly common that it was supposedly a party. So I have trouble being in close physical contact with strangers and groups of strangers in general.”
“How can Melissa put you through this?” Daphne hissed.
“She didn’t. She actually gave me an out. But I insisted because details matter. If I didn’t attend, participate in the formal dance, and all the other things I am expected to do as a member of Lyran nobility tonight it would make so many things harder for both me and Elizabeth. So I’m putting myself through a type of personal hell right now because it will pay off later. Even with me running off to the bathroom like I did.”
“Run? More like a mad sprint. Jeez Helena. You shouldn’t have put yourself through this if you’re not ready.” Elizabeth finally got to the bathroom.
“The worst part is done. I’ll be okay for the rest. I can do this.” Helena stood up.
“Here. My turn to help clean you up. I have a lot more experience puking into things.” Elizabeth wiped down Helena’s face then handed her a breath mint.
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===Pledge of Loyalty===
The actual Swearings in were done in series, but were largely anticlimactic, though there were some variations that were meant to be interesting, parses of words to try and create wiggle-room, and various promises of vengeance on the Clans, or the Combine, or the Free Worlds League that Melissa as the Archon shut down with questions-this usually deflated attempts to gain status, though she did tend to let the oaths of vengeance against the two Clans that were occupying Lyran Worlds stand unchallenged.
"You're ready for this?" Helena asked Elizabeth, "I didn't see you rehearsing…"
"I know exactly what I'm going to say." Liz said, "I don't need to rehearse it." she was called and Helena got to watch.
Liz left her tall hat on the table, along with the somewhat silly long tuxedo jacket, and limped to the space before the Throne, flanked this year, as in many previous years, by a pair of Griffin class Battlemechs.
With difficulty, but by her own insistence unassisted, Lizzie knelt before the throne, supporting herself on her cane.
"I swear my loyalty, fealty, fortune and life to the Lyran Commonwealth."
This drew shocked gasps. She didn't say Federated Commonwealth, it was an act even the known secessionists from Skye hadn't dared.
"I swear to obey the lawful orders and demands of the Archon under the Articles of Incorporation, to uphold the laws of the Lyran Commonwealth, and offer my resources to the protection of its border, stability of its people, and strength of its nation, against all enemies foreign and domestic." Elizabeth continued, "I will oppose all who seek to rend it asunder. This I swear. Does the Archon accept?"
"Your fealty as it is offered, is accepted in the spirit in which it is given, Duchess Ngo. Rise." Melissa stated.
Liz awkwardly forced herself to stand, not with her head bowed, but with her eyes level.
"God, it maims me Watching you stand on that leg…go, sit, We will have words later." Melissa ordered.
Liz limped back to the table, drawing stares from around the room. She didn't swear fealty to the royal family, only to the nation…and only the Lyran portion!
"How did you get away with that?" Arthur asked her in a half-whisper.
"Article 32 of the annexation treaty." Elizabeth murmured back, "No member of the Ngo family has ever sworn loyalty to a family line, only to the nation. Not even my father was willing to break with that."
“Heh. Neat little trick.” Helena chuckled.
"We get away with it because we've never tried to exercise subsection two. No secession means she has to take the oath as written. Alessandro could imprison my grandfather, but he couldn't reallocate the system."
“Your turn Helena. You sure you’re up for this?”
“Yes.”
Helena stood and walked down the carpet until she reached her mark.
Not every Baron or Baroness was expected to swear personal fealty to the Archon. Nor were stations below that. If every vassal of a vassal had to swear personal fealty to the Archon, that would take an excessive amount of time that the Archon could not spare. It was only expected for a select few that held a particularly important Barony. So no one was particularly shocked that Baroness Spider Moon was being called on to swear in with what was in orbit.
“Archon Steiner. I have come to pledge my loyalty in front of you and your guests. As my Duchess has done, so must I. I swear to obey the lawful orders and demands of the Archon under the Articles of Incorporation, to uphold the laws of the Lyran Commonwealth, and offer my resources to the protection of its border, stability of its people, and strength of its nation, against all enemies foreign and domestic. Towards this end I have already entrusted the Archon with my greatest asset. May it serve you well.”
“Her greatest asset? She’s turned over her Warship?” Arthur raised his eyebrow.
“No. Like I said. Your mother already knows an important truth about Helena and if used correctly it can change everything. Whether that is for good or for ill remains to be seen.” Elizabeth answered. “But that is probably what they both want everyone else to think.”
"Arthur!" she was blonde, taller than Helena by some margin, especially in those heels, and wore a formal costume that Helena, at least, had seen at Gagnon's.
"Hey, Kathy, This is Liz, and Helena and Daphne and…dude, you didn't give me a name." he directed straight at Jakob.
"Furniture." Jakob said dryly, "I'm an employee, not a Noble. My Colleague and I are…Carers."
Pol chimed in, "We care so Their Ladyships don't have to."
"GUYS…you're being Embarrassing!!" Elizabeth hissed, showing just a touch of how young she really is.
“You get used to it after a while.” Helena chuckled. “They know they’re more than furniture or scenery but that is how they are expected to act in these sorts of situations.”
"There are people you should be meeting, Arthur!" Katherine insisted, "not these.."
"The word's Hassenfanger." Liz chirped, and set her cup on the table, "in the classic Deutsch of the 19th century, it directly translates as 'Hare catchers' or 'rabbit catchers', Nobles with land, titles, and no future. About it, uh…what's her name Arthur?"
"This is my older sister."
"OH! The Spare!" Liz cracked, "Heir-and-a-Spare right? I mean, that's what my brothers were, I was the extra."
"So was I..." Helena observed, riffing off what they were doing.
"I'm Sorry, Arthur, is she smart?" Liz asked, "I mean, I know you are brilliant…and people talk about Victor's a great leader in the field but maybe not all that in the boardroom…" Liz turned to regard Katherine, "So should I be betting on Katherine when your brother gets bored with my reports?"
"You know, there are places where this kind of behavior is punished."
"Thank god we don't live in the Draconis Combine or the CapCon, then, wouldn't you agree, Lady Katherine? That we have leaders who can take a ****** joke instead of psychotics like Romano Liao?"
“Or worse. Unity City during the reign of Richard? Legends tell of how pissed he’d get if someone dared insult or defy him.”
"Didn't they edit that history in the schools?" Liz noted, "I seem to recall reading some papers about that…"
“Probably but like I said legends.”
Katherine didn't leave, and she seemed to relax...everywhere but her angry, angry eyes.
"Jakob, be a dear and fetch Lady Katherine a seat? We'll make room."
“Yes Ma’am.”
"Welcome to the bad-kids table." Liz gave the elder Steiner-Davion daughter a grin. "Don't worry, it doesn't rub off."
“And really we’re not so bad once you get to know us.” Helena nodded.
"I am!" liz chirped, "I'm everything you've heard and worse…probably. Daffy, am I the bad kid in the class?"
"Only sometimes, Liz." Daphne evaded.
"Damn, I need to work on that."
This made Katherine stifle a giggle.
"I still want you to meet some other people, Arthur…you need to expand your contacts."
"Largest toolmaker in the Federated Commonwealth isn't a valuable contact?" Arthur asked, "the lady who rode in on a warship not valuable? Our third biggest banking house??" he revealed he did pay attention to his statecraft.
“Okay we might have to keep him away from my sister, she just might go bisexual just for him.” Helena laughed.
Elizabeth Ngo snorted, almost choked on her drink, and put the cup down.
"Is that-"
"It's beer." Liz said. "They have this beer here, it's coffee-colored and vivid tasting, and not nearly as nasty a hangover as that sparkling wine stuff."
That is when the odd cup out was noticed. Helena’s drink was non-alcoholic while everyone else’s was.
"Beer? With your medications-?"
"Better than the whiskey." Liz commented, "gentler, take it from the ex junkie. I'm not even gonna get a buzz off this stuff."
“Still, rather interesting I must admit the one person I would expect to have booze, is the one that does not.” Katherine carefully veiled her insult.
"I'm drying out." Helena said, "For health reasons."
“I see.” Katherine nodded. "Precentor Dow is very keen to meet with you, Arthur."
"Did you apply to Comstar?" Liz scoffed.
'
"It's an option, higher education, the Mariks did it once…"
“I can match them for educational opportunities.” Helena said matter of factly.
Katherine stared, "WHAT??"
"She can match the Terran Ministry of Communications for education an' technical training." Elizabeth drawled.
“You’d be surprised at just how complete of records are aboard a Star League Warship. Including educational material.”
"It won't be just the warship for long." Liz commented, eyeing Helena, "You're going to give it to her, aren't you? That's why you two were outside on the balcony."
“No it won’t and we’ll do like the Gray Death Legion did and spread it so far and so wide that something like Holy Shroud can never happen again.”
"You're going to release that kind of advanced technical information?" Katherine scoffed, "to anyone?"
"Katherine? May I call you Katherine?" Liz began, "she's releasing it because it needs to be released, it's the same reason I'm underwriting a University where the classes are free, but the degrees cost money."
“Also look back on your life. I know you were young when it first started but you’ve seen how the Helm Core has changed things. If we can keep that spirit going, imagine what the realm would look like in another generation. Two even.” Helena added.
"Imagine a Commonwealth where this gathering?" liz gestured, "Had men in business suits instead of uniforms...because we're prospering and at peace, instead of fighting an existential war against yet another invader."
“Sure the realm may face future enemies. We’re not that idealistic. But because it has the solid core of prosperity and technology…”
"It's easier to win, if you're equipped to win…so what's the real reason you came over to the bad kids' table, you've been ignoring Arthur most of the night."
"How did you know-?" Arthur half-whispered to Elizabeth.
"Because I'm always looking." Liz said quietly to him, "ever since I got shot, I'm always looking at what's around me."
“She’s trying to get our measure. We had slightly different oaths. We brought a Warship as our ride. So she’s seeing just who we are.” Helena wagered.
"One point five two four meters." Liz rattled off, "and I can't wear heels with the bad knee."
“One point six two meters and while I can wear heels I prefer not to.” Helena smiled.
"One point seven Two meters, and yes, I did letter in ladie's Basketball in high school." Daphne added, then "Oh, and I like my uniform, thank you very much Lil'bit."
"Point made." Liz nodded.
Arthur couldn't keep himself from chuckling at the almost-practiced dad-jokes from the ladies at the table.
“You’re all insane. Mother should have minders on you.” Katherine scoffed.
"Pol, aren't you a Lyran Agent?" Liz asked. 
"Last time I looked at my paycheck." Pol nodded.
"We've got minders." Liz said, "My bodyguard may have a Coast Guard I.D. but he reports to Lohengrin like every OTHER senior Police Militia officer antispinward of Coventry. I've known most of the spies in my establishment since I was a child, Katherine, that is, a younger child, one who didn't get shot in her bathroom or inherit a Ducal Seat."
“And you? Baroness Drillson? Who is your minder?”
"Her minders watch me." Helena said casually. “If that isn’t good enough, the Archon knows who I really am.”
"It's more efficient." Liz added. 
"You're a Nationalist…what do you feel about my father's half of the realm, I remember hearing you refused to do business there…"
"That's a policy I lifted this week." Liz stated, "Or was it last week?"
"Three weeks ago, Elizabeth."
"Riiighhht….yes, I'm a Nationalist, I thought that was clear in my oath. The Federated Suns are a valued ally, and the dual monarchy structure is going to create some interesting situations as the legal and ethical systems of both nations clash, but to me? They're only an ally, one that can turn on us in a heartbeat if we give them enough cause."
“And I hear New Avalon is actually quite lovely this time of the year.” Helena added. “But we have a lot to do and not much time to do it in. So you’ll forgive us if we don’t visit.”
"So…you're antagonizing them to create a cause?" Katherine led.
"NO. I'm avoiding foreign entanglements because they're expensive." Liz stated. "We'll do service work and sales in the Federated Suns half, but they already have some fine outfits that do most of the same jobs we do. The competition will be invigorating, we haven't had a decent domestic competitor since Bridgeport went out in the 29th century, and having a third player in my ongoing feud with Krupp will certainly make for a spur to innovation."
“Really if anything we’re giving them reason to stay our friends.” Helena smiled.
"Third wealthiest private firm in the Commonwealth, and you're worried about cost?"
"I ride the bus." Liz told her, "when I'm at home, or take a taxi. I buy lunch at sidewalk stands, I got rid of the old palace and turned it into a school because it's a nightmare to keep warm in hard winter and cool in High Summer, I didn't buy this getup, Your Mother made me get it, my preferred outfits are linen and wool, not silk."
“You don’t get rich or stay rich by being frivolous. I even heard legend of an old pre-spaceflight tech pioneer who despite being one of the wealthiest people on the planet at the time would buy groceries on sale and with coupons.”
"Coupons are ****** awesome." Liz confirmed, "Recommended, will do it every time to avoid paying full price…I Pay FULL PRICE for things that actually matter, which shoes, unless they're specialty equipment for a purpose, don't."
“My brother was one of those people who thought wealth and power were for showing off. To impress people.”
“So what matters then?" Katherine asked.
"Progress, Prosperity, and Profit." Elizabeth rattled off, "I am Lyran, after all. Everything I pay full price for, is to two or more of those ends."
"Two?"
"TWO. If you only get thirty percent of what you're after, you lost the negotiation before you started."
"You used a pistol to-"
"I bought it on a discount, same for the bullets." Liz stated, "I toyed with the idea of charging their families for the ammunition but discarded it because the collections costs would exceed the price of the ammunition, and that's being petty to trip over a Kroner to pick up a Phennig."
“I do hope you’ve been paying attention. Committing this all to memory. History is replete with examples of what happens to people who are like my brother. That is no threat. That is just history.” Helena said coolly.
Katherine excused herself and glided across the ballroom.
"She's up to something." Arthur noted. 
"Probably. Did you see the way her eyes iced when you mentioned Victor?" Jakob asked.
“I recognized that look.” Helena nodded. “She hates him.”
Liz awkwardly rose, "Arthur? I think I'm numb enough, would you dance with me?"
"Yeah, sure…" He helped her to the floor.
"Well, this got really weird." Daphne said, "Should we be worried?"
“Worried is my default state.” Jacob stated.
"Lady Helena, if I may trouble you to borrow your…'carer', Mister Jakob here, for a pass through the dance?" Daphne asked.
“You two have fun. Consider it a fact finding mission Jakob.” Helena smiled. “I’ll be safe enough here.”
Jacob nodded and went with Daphne to the dance floor.
"Pol, keep eyes on Lady Katherine, discreetly, and tell me who she's meeting when we're done here." Helena ordered the Coastie Marine.
"Ayeh, Mum."
What's going on? this whole situation was entirely too familiar.
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