Syrenrei

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae was stiff in Rene's arms; he could feel the tension in her shoulders as she struggled to keep her composure and conviction. As he had looked down at her, telling her it was his choice to come with her, she had stared at his chest for fear of meeting his eyes. Nobles had a reputation of having an iron mind. Once they set themselves on a course of action nothing save the Empress herself could convince them to alter their path. This was perhaps true for Solae in some scenarios, but Rene's voice and gaze was a weapon wielded unknowingly.

His words were arrows to the heart. He joked, he dropped his voice from a yell to a gentle tone, and he appealed to her rational nature, but she knew he was hurt. Solae reminded herself that injuring him now was justified by saving him from the pain that the future inevitably held for them. She consoled herself with the fact that he was only insisting on protecting her because he felt a responsibility due to their connection, but it would fade if she could create distance. It was when he gingerly touched her chin, raising it upwards so that she could no longer avert his gaze, that she crumbled.

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and slid down her cheeks. Rene brushed them away with his fingertips as concern edged his features. He had not meant to make her cry and it caused him distress to see her react this way. To see him care about her only made her more desperate to draw away. Solae took a few steps backwards until she hit a wall. The room was too small to get all that far away from her lover.

"You have to let me go, Rene. I am not as kind or selfless as you think I am. If you continue to hold my hand I won't have the strength to let you leave..." her voice cracked with emotion and then grew quiet. "You already saved my life, so let me protect you from myself, and from the nobility. You have to know if we're found you won't be able to escape the courts. Besides, the rebels won't kill me. I'll promise you to survive whatever they put me through."

And Solae would survive but not intact. She could be wed, impregnated, scarred, and psychologically damaged beyond all repair if and when the Empire liberated New Concordia from the leaders of the coup. She could not guarantee her state of being but that she would do all in her power not to die in the most literal sense. As long as her genetic code was necessary for communication arrays she would not be killed; and even then the Gids could find use for a pretty woman beyond their war. Genetic manipulation ensured a long life, ageing with grace and minimal negative effects, and retaining as much of her beauty as technology could allow. If Selene and Alyosha's parents were any indication her hair would turn white and wrinkles would be sparse. Enslavement for decades was not unfathomable.

"You know what I'm telling you is the truth. I'll be a Marquise unless I renounce it, and even then if I am rescued the Empress may reinstate it against my will. Rene, I can't subject you to that, not knowing..." she trailed off. Specifically naming the murder accusation was a step too far. "It's better this way, while I still can," she murmured to herself. It was obvious to Rene she was not talking to him so much as she was trying to convince herself.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae was quiet as Oanh and Min Ho spoke- suspiciously so. Silence fell over the room like a dark cloud of the night prior as each waited for the other to break through the tension. Determined as the Parks were that the couple should not linger at the house any longer, they would not forcefully evict them quite yet. There was an opportunity for both Rene and Solae to make preparations and decisions (specifically regarding possible routes) before departing so they could make the best of their situation. The seasoned veterans would give tactical opinions if requested but first a venture must be made.

"I think Rene should stay here," the marquise finally stated. All three of the soldiers openly stared at her stunned by her words.

She knew that they would be thinking this was wildly out of character. Of the quartet she was the most objectively outwardly emotional. Just yesterday she had been so distracted with her pseudo-rejection by Rene she had been curt about one of his jests. It was also no secret that she had slept with Rene enthusiastically during between dusk and dawn after they had made amends. Tracing back to who first initiated intimacy, it was Solae who kissed Rene passionately in the bathroom of Lord Armon's manor. Reeling from the news that her parents had died she had clung to her knight in shining armor and made an uncharacteristic attempt to romantically engage. Mia had not unduly influenced Solae; the attraction had been lingering there since the pair first met in the suburbs outside Armistice. To suggest splitting from a man whom she pursued, whom she adored, whom she favored physically and mentally, whom she was enamored with and infatuated with, so soon after he gave her the release she desired... it looked more of betrayal than favor.

"You can't be serious," Oanh breathed.

"Right now they are only looking for me," she patiently explained in a voice so detached from feeling that it could have been delivered by a primitive synthetic organism. "They will suspect I've had help but not who. The estate burned to the ground and destroyed most of their evidence. Furthermore, it will take time for them to realize that Rene was not a casualty from the attack on the base. Even if they came to the correct conclusion that we were together, one soldier does not rise to the same level of threat as I create with my genetic code, communication device knowledge, and linguistic skills. He is safer without me."

"But you are not safer without him," Oanh pointed out even before Rene could speak. Min Ho remained silent. He knew, like Oanh suspected, that this was about much more than just survival rates for the two individually versus united. Something had propelled Solae into martyring herself despite the objections and horrified responses of her allies.

"I will go pack my extra set of clothes," Solae said without addressing Oanh's statement. She avoided looking at Rene as she turned and started back towards the guest room. One errant look from her beau would dissolve her convictions that she had to save him from herself. The affect that the handsome former noble had on her was so great that his touch could eradicate all the courage she had bolstered to travel alone.

"I'll make breakfast. No one is leaving until they've eaten," Oanh announced to Min Ho and Rene meaningfully. The former was to stop Solae if she became overly ambitious in her timetable and the latter was to persuade his consort out of her temporary madness.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae suspected they would have to agree to disagree on how 'tough' she truly was. Perhaps her strong sense of self-preservation was another gift from the geneticist consultant her mother and father had employed some twenty odd years ago. Fleeing from death did not feel noble. In retrospect the marquise was not certain she felt like more than a caged animal backed into a corner that was focusing with tunnel-like vision on what would earn their survival. It was a touch ironic that she had been bred for intelligence and beauty yet they had not helped her defy fate. Long golden hair had not made the missiles impact exterior walls and blast debris around her out of bias for its color. Wit had not made Marlene impaled instead of Solae. Already she was weary of running and she could not fathom how much more of it she would be required to do.

As many questions as she had- why he had been on punishment detail in the first place, whom had been murdered, what evidence was against him- but it was clear that Rene was not capable of addressing a barrage. It was a show of faith that he had confided in her at all and she was grateful. There would be a day in the future, assuming that the rebellion did not end her life itself, that she would seek her answers with or without Rene on the subject of the murder allegations. He had moved on with life but placing it in the past the best way he knew how, burying the memories and pursuing the only avenue available to him, but even before the words of his innocence left his lips Solae knew she could not let this stand.

Telling Rene her intangible plan would put him in a tailspin. He'd object with certainty. An investigation could have a negative impact to her reputation even if her status allowed her greater societal latitude. If the murderer was still at large, and clever enough to not have been suspect to this day, the unknown individual would see Solae's inquisitive pursuit as a threat. Rene carried deeply about Solae's safety and the notion that she'd put herself in cross-hairs that already claimed another would push him over an emotional edge.

But Rene deserved more. If he had joined the Imperial Marines of his own volition that would be one matter. That he was veritably forced into it by false accusations, that his name had been besmirched, that he had been obviously traumatized and was still disparaged to this day... it was unconscionable. The soldier had been her knight in shining armor and she prayed the universe gave her the same opportunity in the courts even if decades passed.

Solae barely noticed the storm raging outside or even the look in Rene's eyes as she had inadvertently focused inwards. It was only when he pulled her close and kissed her that she become aware of her surroundings. A lady would have gently pushed him away, reminding him he was injured and possibly compromised by medication, that they should have a long, drawn out courtship full of expensive gifts and appearances to establish themselves as a couple, and a meeting between parents to discuss lineage and genetic strength. But Solae was increasingly aware she wasn't much of a lady (she had initiated prior) and, if Lord Armon's other conquests were indication, she was not alone in eschewing such requirements. Conscious thought melted away as she returned the passion of his kiss and pressed against him, craving the intoxicating heat emanating from his body. With no other way to close the distance (limbs and clothing be damned) she slid into his lap nimbly.

It was a good thing that the late Marquise Selene Falia in particular was not privy to these developments. She had died believing her daughter's discretion was indicative of chaste, reserved relationships. Marchess Alyosha Falia knew better- his daughter was well past eighteen years- but he had let his wife believe what she wanted to be to avoid disruptions in his lifestyle. After all, she was not the female version of the playboy Lord Armon, so there had been no reason to intervene or let the illusions Mrs. Falia had constructed fall.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"Not treat me like a porcelain doll again ever?" she inquired with a raised brow. When Rene had walked back into the bedroom after his shower Solae had been perched on the side the bed brushing her hair. Oanh had lent her a particularly ornately decorated brush of black lacquer and hand-painted flowers from a distant realm. The rhythmic, constant motions of stroking her hair from scalp to end was soothing. So many years of repetition meant it was done without any thought and thus her mind could wander over its vast landscape to find worthy topics of muse over.

"Truthfully that is what growing up a noble is, isn't it? People making assumptions and then, armed with those beliefs and perceptions, making decisions on your behalf." Solae rested the smooth surface of the brush in her palm before leaning over and placing it on a nightstand. The room was relatively barren except for the bed and nightstands; the marquise suspected it was barely used. Min Ho and Oanh were not the sorts to play host and hostess without exceedingly good reasons to do so.

"I know you don't really want to talk about it," she began delicately, putting a hand on his if only to stop him from rising from his seat out of anger. "But I know why people join the Imperial Marines. I won't ask you to talk about what led to it specifically, but I want you to know I'm here if you ever want to discuss it, or yell, or even cry- I won't judge a man who cries no matter what I'm sure the Marines say about that- and I want you to know I believe in you. Whatever you've been accused of I know it can't be true- because you've already shown me what character you possess. After this is all over I will do anything in my power you ask me to... assuming of course I am still alive. My cousins are righteous assholes who wouldn't lift a finger without at least implied benefit to themselves."

Solae was ignorant of the charge of murder that had been levied against Rene, but even if she had known her faith would not have strayed. In the split second the soldier had seen three Gids advancing on her he had reacted more out of instinct than calculation. No one willing to risk themselves so selflessly could have slain an innocent. No one so worried about her safety, so conscientious of her honor, so anxious about the dangers she faced was capable of great evil. These were not learned virtues. Heroicism was a lifeblood that coursed through Rene's veins for years no matter if had opportunity or not to realize.

"And while I won't correct you on the issue of my intelligence- it's been measured every year since I was old enough for the testing- I certainly don't feel tough. It feels as if the world is moving under my feet and I am simply trying to run with it but can't grasp what is around me. It's a surreal blur," she continued. "Do you know why I didn't die in the attack on the embassy? I was near the center of the floor. All the walls, the furniture, the people around me absorbed the worst of the impact and the shrapnel. They inadvertently shielded me with their lives," she murmured. This was a conclusion had come to her when she was studying Syshi with Mia. For the briefest minutiae of time she saw Marlene's lifeless gaze turned towards her.

"I don't know what kind of person I'd be if I fell apart now. They all protected me, against their will, Mia helped us, Oanh and Min Ho are hiding us away, and you're..." she trailed off. Solae cleared her throat as she realized during the entire time rambling she had not let go of his hand. It quite suddenly felt scalding hot to the touch and his presence overwhelming. Fortunately Min Ho had gifted Rene clothing that did not leave his chest entirely exposed or she would have been even more distracted.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae's lips were pressed together ever so slightly at the allusion to their earlier conversation. The marquise was not a shy wilting flower but she also did not make it a habit to impulsively kiss men to which she felt an attraction. While Rene had reciprocated the expression of desire, his passive non-reaction to her departure and then subsequent statement that he didn't want her to 'regret' when the subject was broached had left a sour taste in her mouth. It was undeniable she had put herself out on a precarious limb. Perhaps he would have apologized had she not cowardly severed the internal broadcast... but nothing had been resolved as of present. Revisiting the memories did not conjure positive emotions.

"While I appreciate the insight," she began in a quiet, calm, diplomatic voice as polished as the marble of Lord Armon's home, "I am not ready to make that decision over dinner. I don't consider this to be about 'appeasing' the men of the rebellion nor making choices so I can be the best symbol on New Concordia for the Stellar Empire."

"Point taken," Oanh said. Although she did not agree with delaying the decision indefinitely, it was clear from the way that Solae spoke and sat that she was immovable on the topic for the immediate future.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Oanh continued after a brief moment of silence. "We heard about your parents. Are there other branches of the Falia family on other worlds you are close to?" She was trying to more delicately touch on a point Rene had just made- that whether she meant to or not she would be a representative for her lineage and the empire on a whole. There were not many nobles left on New Concordia and she wagered very, very few that would not be executed as traitors once this was all over. Solae's survival was thrusting her into more of a spotlight than she realized.

"There are other branches, but we are not close. I have two cousins, Countess Marina Nowak and Count Constantine Falia. They are both quite a bit older than I am and we have never lived near one another or run in the same social circles," she admitted. Her tone was casual and measured to sound neither excited nor depressed, but there were nuances that indicated a frosty distance.

"If you can communicate with the empire, is that who you plan to contact?" Oanh inquired.

Solae laughed at the suggestion. For the typical person it would make sense to reach out to family, but hers had raised the cousins to 'compete' in a way to be the most 'true' Falia heir. Technically Solae was born to a slightly higher station as her father had been the eldest son of the previous Falia generation. As their mother was second born the cousins knew they were considered 'lesser' no matter how minimal the degree. This had pitted them against one another from an early age. Solae did not attempt to measure herself against the relatives since it seemed rather ridiculous and her ambitions did not lie in besting them, which only irritated them more.

"No, no, though I'm sure they would do everything expected of them if I did. I'm certain Rene would have someone more worthwhile to reach out to or I'd try to contact one of my peers in the sector," she said with a soft smile. There was a certain soft-spoken older man in an office connected directly on the relay that she was wished to meet in her lifetime. He sounded unusually calm and thoughtful, a true rarity in the bureaucracy.

"Well, if I am to be taking the night watch I will need a nap," Oanh declared as she finished her food, stood, and cleaned up after herself. "The guest bedroom is the secondary safe room, so it does not have an exterior window, is fire resistant, sound proof, and the floors and walls are reinforced. If you need anything there is a small blue button underneath both nightstand drawers that can alert us to an emergency situation," Oanh explained. "I can't imagine there is anything you will need but it's there. If for any reason we are breached, the first safe room is the armory downstairs. We only utilize the guest bedroom as a safe room if for any reason the cellar is inaccessible."

"Thank you, Oanh. I'm sure Rene and I will be fine," she reassured. The inflection in her words made Oanh raise a brow and she exchanged the briefest of looks with Min Ho. They both sensed the strange air between their guests but were, for the moment, too polite to intervene or comment on it openly.

"Is there anything you need, Rene, before I head to bed?" Oanh asked.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae emerged from the master bedroom just before Min Ho was about to knock and make certain she was decent- the bathroom he and Oanh shared was only accessible from their room. The fair marquise had pulled back her thick, golden hair and into a ponytail to elevate it off her neck and stay as cool as possible. Even arranged in this fashion it fell nearly to her waist. She was adorned in a tailored plum-colored tank top woven of a popular fabric for exercise garments as it retained heat and wicked off perspiration quickly. Coupled with this selection were tight-fitted chocolate brown slacks that contained a stretchy material for ease of movement. Neither piece had loose fabric that would be caught or snag on terrain once they left the Park's residence.

"You look lovely, Solae," Oanh said with a smile. And in Oanh's estimation Solae looked better than she ever could in the same outfit. The sizing was slightly off- Oanh was more muscular while Solae was delicate, busty, and incredibly thin at the waist by design- but the highborn noblewoman had picked more elastic attire that was more forgiving.

"Thank you, and thank you for your generosity," Solae said with a slight bow of the head. Such a gesture was proper etiquette for the courts but generally reserved for peers. That she did this sign of respect for someone below her station by several 'rungs' and had no concern towards propriety was telling of Solae's disposition. Unlike many of her peers, Solae was considered liberal and did not too highly revere the titled system. A count or countess that refused to converse with commoners was typical; someone that engaged them on their level was rare. Solae was one of the latter.

"How are you feeling?" Oanh said conversationally as Solae sat down at the table. There was a glint in her eye that spoke to a sharp, clever purpose to this innocuous query.

"I am a touch hungry, but otherwise well," Solae responded apparently oblivious to an ulterior motive.

Holding her hand up in a staying motion to Rene discreetly, Oanh closed the small distance between herself and Solae with astounding speed and injected her guest with a small dispenser no larger than her thumb. Solae almost startled out of her chair in alarm but relaxed when she realized she was not suffering from any ill-effects. If anything she felt better.

"It's easier if you don't know it's coming," Oanh explained. She unclasped her hand and revealed a small device with multiple sharp protrusions (akin to needles) exposed at one end. The liquid contained within the device had been inserted within Solae and was not visible, but a small droplet of milky white remained. "It stings but the infusion will help you heal a little bit better, enough walking won't be as painful tomorrow, but not enough to be taking out those sutures sooner. You'll have a rush of energy today and crash hard tonight, but it is worth the trade-off."

"What about Rene?" Solae asked as she absently rubbed the spot on her arm that was irritated from the injection.

"There are male and female versions because of the manner in which the drug affects hormones," Oanh shrugged, "but Min Ho should have some if Rene wants to help those bruises disappear a little faster. Min Ho will do watch today, I'll do watch tonight, but I didn't know if you'd want to rest or take a watch," she said as she turned towards Rene. "Resting increases your chances of survival after you leave here, so that is my recommendation, but I will not force you to sleep unlike my husband."

"Have you dealt with the Amber Horizon Encampment at all?" Solae asked as she took a slice of bread from Rene and began to eat. Oanh was not waiting on Min Ho to return to eat; she heard the sounds of the bath. He would be taking his time and not join them at the table for a while yet.

"The Syshin? Some. We do not bother them and so they do not bother us. It's an arrangement that has served us well. Why do you ask?"

"I speak Syshi. I was hoping I might be able to barter with them for refuge and safe passage off New Concordia."

Oanh raised a brow. She was obviously impressed. Learning any language took time, dedication, and a great deal of study. Few thought learning the tongue of the lesser Syshin was worth even the smallest amount of effort when most Syshin were forced to learn casual common. "You speak Syshi? That will definitely make them more inclined to help you. May I make a suggestion though, Solae?"

Solae dropped her piece of bread on her plate to give Oanh her full attention as was proper.

"You should consider how to mitigate that bounty against you if you do get caught. Hyun Tae and I can only risk so much and do so much. If you are captured they will almost certainly execute Rene immediately. You can't do much about the monetary reward, but there other actions you can take. Let your wounds scar. Relinquish your title. Give away some portion of your wealth. Marry someone even in a farce to make it harder for them to engage you. Take a Syshin lover. If you can the reward you offer inherently reduced it could do you a great deal of good."

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"All right, take off your shirt and shorts so we can try some things on," Oanh instructed.

Solae had been led into a bedroom that was a stark departure from the luxury of Lord Armon's estate. It was large and comfortable, with a bed that slept two comfortably, but it did not have the expensive drapes, plush rugs embroidered in metallic threads, brocade-upholstered antiques, or fine pieces of artwork. There was a small table in a corner by a window that was clearly for Oanh's exclusive use judging by the design and perfumes arranged by its large mirror. There were two nightstands, a wardrobe with a door half-ajar revealing men's clothes inside, and brackets mounted on a wall for safe weapon storage.

As the marquise undressed Oanh manually opened a walk-in closet that was filled with apparel. Most was blouses, skirts, slacks, dresses, and wear exclusively for woman, but Solae spotted a few unisex or masculine garments interspersed. The sniper wandered around as she plucked out options, measuring them visually against Solae, and then either draping them on her arm or shoving them back into the order. This took several minutes and left the noble beauty standing uncomfortably exposed as she waited patiently.

"I have some undergarments I haven't worn as well," Oanh said as she produced well over a dozen ensembles for Solae including vacuum-sealed unmentionables in their original packaging. "Only one of the tops might fit and I doubt the bottoms are your style, but maybe Rene will appreciate my taste."

"Oh, he's not... I mean to say we're not... involved," Solae stammered as she awkwardly shuffled off the rest of her clothing and began to try on the pile that had been given to her. Oanh waited quietly without judgment or further commentary which only made Solae feel compelled to explain. She did not want to appear to be lacking in social graces or lacking in gratitude for the generosity being displayed at this moment. "We just met and I'm the most wanted woman on the planet."

Oanh folded her arms. "I'll say," she remarked with a half-bemused smile. "I'll let you finish trying these on in peace. Pick one outfit to wear and one to take with you so you can alternate what is dry and clean with what needs to be washed. When you are on the move you need to pack light."

Before Solae could protest Oanh had slipped out the door and out of the room. Being alone sent a shiver down her spine but she focused on the task at hand so as to not let emotions overwhelm her. It was only after her hostess had abandoned the bedchambers that Solae realized that everything selected for her had been in blue or purple jewel tones to match the hues of her iris. Military women invoked a certain stereotype but Oanh had not let them define her judging by the overflowing closet.

----

"Still working on the clothes," Oanh said as she entered the kitchen where Rene and her husband were setting the table. "Now, before she comes out here we need to address the elephant in the room and I don't mean Hyun Tae's wretched attempt at facial hair." Min Ho rolled his eyes but didn't object. Discreetly he touched at the stubble of his jaw that had failed to fill in properly.

"The higher up you go with noble titles, the more genetically engineered they are. I can tell just looking at Solae her parents left absolutely nothing to a roll of the dice. Of course enhancements come at a cost regardless of what propaganda tells you. For women in particular they have a higher pain tolerance- because child birth is a messy affair even with our current tech- but they can't handle trauma as you, Hyun Tae, or myself. I doubt Solae herself has been made aware. There's no imminent danger judging by the two injuries she's sporting right now, but I am warning you that you might take a couple bullets and still have a chance to react, but she will have a lower threshold to into shock." Oanh's brows furrowed slightly in concern.

"Oanh can give you a crash course in how to react to medical emergencies," Min Ho remarked with a gesture. "Patched herself up enough."

"The hell I did. My job was to watch your back at a distance. I would have been the worst sharpshooter of this vector if I had waltzed out from under cover and engaged the enemy." Oanh sported a charming smile as she turned towards Rene. There was no doubt that between the two that Min Ho was built to destroy anything foolish enough to be within an arm's length of his person. "But my husband's right. I could give you a crash course if you feel so inclined."

"I'm going to sweep the perimeter before we eat," Min Ho stated as he started towards the front door.

"We also only have one guest bedroom. Is that going to be a problem for you?" Oanh asked Rene politely.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"I'm Hyun Tae Young," Min Ho replied dryly without any effort to conceal his deception. When the situation warranted it he could be convincing and enthusiastic about an alias. In this particular case, however, he was stating only what was absolutely required by direct imperial orders. Toeing the line was not a new concept to the assassin. His profession required a great deal of improvisation and latitude that was not afforded to others; the trust that was instilled in him was rewarded by results and unwavering fealty. So long as Solae and Rene were not privy to his history of classified assignments and his true identity there would be no formal reprimand. Min Ho and Oanh had been put to pasture but they were far from forgotten or dismissed as irrelevant- people with their skills were assets and liability that the Stellar Empire could not afford to purge from their memory.

"You can call me Oanh," she replied pleasantly. Technically on New Concordia she was 'Oahn Young' instead of 'Oanh Park,' but she had not bothered to change her given name. A request had been made during their debriefing to civilian life but she had tacitly refused. There was more than one Oanh in the universe (no pun intended) and her records were so highly confidential she did not believe that anyone could connect the dots even if they wished to. On the operations she was most involved with she had used an alias then; hell, her real name had been used less than any of her pseudonyms.

"I think what you mean to ask is what we are. Unofficially that's classified," he grunted as he leaned against a wall and kept an eye on a window across the room that faced the street. It was still outside; the local populace had learned their lesson. No one ventured out from his abode but they did not tolerate looters either. Min Ho and Oanh's neighbors considered them 'inhospitable shut ins.'

"But in a past life we pledged ourselves to a certain interstellar form of government," Oanh said with a wink. Placing her hands on her hips she continued. "It's too dangerous to keep you here more than a couple days, but we can make sure you have some supplies before you venture out there again." Min Ho rolled his eyes at how much his wife was divulging. Had the pair made any real imposition he might have objected at two days instead of a singular suggestion- but even Duke Tan couldn't pry open their files. He wouldn't know how to. As far as he and his wife were concerned no one could or would know they had hid the couple.

"And who are you?" Min Ho gestured to Rene.

"Are you wearing men's clothes?" Oanh interrupted.

Solae had gone mute since entering the home. Being among not one, not two, but three heavily armed individuals with raw efficacy in combat was humbling. Before the initial strikes of the rebellion she had very limited contact with the military. Most of her socialization was with fragile noble ladies or gentlemen who exercised for the sake of vanity (if they did not use technology to stimulate musculature). None had the raw efficacy of her current company who could, in their own right, take down small companies of local militia with little struggle. Rene had taken on three when he had rescued her. Solae wagered that Oanh and Min Ho were just as, if not more, deadly.

"Oh, yes," she replied hesitantly as she glanced down at her attire. "My clothes were ruined with..," Solae started to explain. A lump formed in her throat and she fought to finish with a smooth tone. "They were ruined at the Imperial Embassy. The manor we found was owned by a bachelor."

"We're not the same size but I am sure I can find you something a better fit than that," Oanh said as she visually determined rough estimates for the marquise's figure. "Hyun Tae, can you show Rene the room downstairs so he can put down his pack?" She didn't wait for a response before taking Solae's arm in a vaguely romantic manner and escorting her to the master bedroom where her wardrobe was kept.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"Mia, before we depart, do you have my undergarment cleaned?" Solae asked delicately once Rene had concluded speaking with the artificial intelligence. It had been surprising that Rene was so concerned about the survival of something he had been uncomfortable with at start. She would be lying if she didn't admit that Mia's programming to encourage sensual encounters and speak seductively wasn't a little strange to her as well, but Rene she wagered had been more bothered than she. That he was, in spite of this, worried about the synthetic existence spoke to a well of empathy that was unexpected in any nobility. If it hadn't been intrusive and wholly inappropriate timing she might have inquired further was title Rene possessed before he had left for the Imperial Marines.

"Yes, of course Lady Solae," was the purred response as she ejected the clothing out of an opening in the wall dedicated to pulling items out of (and putting them into) storage. Mia had cleansed most of the blood out but some of the pale lilac color was mottled and streaked with a pale pink. Motioning for Rene to turn Solae shimmied out of her shorts, pulled on the underwear, and then pulled the shorts back on.

"Thank you for everything, Mia."

"You are most welcome, Lady Solae."

"When we get to another house we'll check in with you," she told Mia. Rationally this didn't mean much to the computerized intellect as she would not feel pain at the destruction of Lord Armon's manor, nor would she feel distress at not having anything to do, and she did not have as firm of a feeling of the passage of time. Solae knew if she escaped this she may not ever feel completely at home in her parent's estate if it could be recovered. Maybe, just maybe, she would survive and build a new residence that Mia could inhabit. There was a sentimentality to it- that Mia helped save them and she could help save Mia (unliving though she was).

"Let's go," Solae told Rene quietly as she packaged away her sadness. The marquise did not look back at the underground room as they made their way down the hall in hushed reverence. She knew a single glance back would fill her with dread, fear, and crippling sadness. To leave the refuge was to venture back into open danger.

The tunnel sloped gently upwards before they arrived at a regal marbled staircase into an unremarkable ceiling. Solae pressed a button hidden on the right side of the bottom step and a circular portion of the aforementioned ceiling slid away into itself, allowing them ample room to ascend safely. Stepping outside they were greeted by a small grove of fruit trees, sunlight so bright Solae squinted her eyes into little slits, and the sound of distant mayhem. Once they were both clear of the passageway's opening it slid shut behind them, leaves rustling in place to cover the seamless edges of where it had been.

"We should start towards the Syshin," Solae whispered. No one was around to hear but she was understandably paranoid about Gids or looters happening upon them. There were loud whoops of excitement from the northwest where Lord Armon's luxurious abode was still standing- for now. "I'll lead the way. The closer we get the less people we'll see... not many like being close to the Syshin, and I imagine the rebellion feels the same way."

They went the opposite direction than the route they had taken from when they first met to Lord Armon's. True to her word, Rene could bear witness to how the noble homes, merchant homes, and even peasant homes and farms became increasingly sparse as they traveled towards the Syshin. There was zoning that dictated whom could live where but it became more barren nonetheless as they drew closer. Lots of land laid bare rather than be occupied too close to the Syshin. After an hour and a half's travel there were smaller groupings of buildings (usually houses, but sometimes an errant shop) that represented the last outcroppings of Armistice before entering the borders of the Amber Horizon Encampment.

As Solae and Rene passed towards a row of shrubs in a modest, but well-maintained, two-story residence a voice called out to them from behind a hedge. "Solae? Solae Falia?" The man was muscular but agile, his black hair silvery gray at the temples, his visage weathered and placing his age somewhere in the fifties, and he was wearing tactical armor that cost a small fortune. At first glance he was neither a Gid, nor an Imperial Marine, nor a noble.

"At ease soldier," he said with a nod towards Rene, "if I was going to shoot I could have ambushed you already. What the hell are you doing out in the middle of the day?" Min Ho furrowed his brow- he hadn't expected New Concordia's most wanted woman to waltz on by so he didn't have a pitch to convince them he was safe.

"For fuck's sake Min Ho, ask them inside!" The sniper on the roof slid down to the balcony, then hung by her fingertips from the railing of the balcony before dropping to the ground. "Forgive his manners, he quite frankly doesn't have any." Min Ho frowned at the assertion. "And before you ask, we're not with the rebellion, but we don't have enough time for more questions out here."

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae had, true to her word, been brushing up on her Syshi with Mia. The latter had been suspiciously compliant and some of the sultry affect had vanished from her dulcet tones. The marquise highly suspected that Mia did have the capability to adjust to her voice to her guests, that there was some sort of underlying program for this purpose. What had triggered the change remained unknown. Considering they were not to stay in the manor for much longer it was ultimately irrelevant to their plight. Syshi was a difficult enough language that it was not impossible that Mia could not replicate it perfectly. The subtleties of intonation and emphasis was a challenge to impart to an artificial intelligence with a synthetic voice. When the creators of the software were themselves novices at Syshi, and they expected no patron with this very expensive system would dare to utilize the feature, it was allowed to be neglected and erroneous.

When Rene pounded on the door Solae nearly jumped out of her skin. At first she smiled thinking he was taking up the alluded to but not explicitly stated offer. Her excitement and anticipation the next second when Rene shouted he thought they had company. Tossing off the covers she swung her feet over the side of the bed and half-walked, half-hobbled to her shirt. Solae was still pulling it over her head when she door and indicated he should join her inside. Attempting to hide her limp she did a few subtle exercises with her left leg to improve circulation. Even in this life or death situation she was not confident in her ability to run.

"Mia," she called out, "Setting change. Authority of Marquise Solae Falia, Senior Translator at Stellar Imperial Embassy 524, Armistice, New Concordia. Code 4283-EMHAJ-calmtable3032. Acknowledge authorization." It wasn't the perfect solution; Solae was pulling rank on a home system. This was a universal 'back door' that blatantly exploited the strict seniority and privileges of status. Fortunately only someone elevated higher than a marquise would be able to undo what Solae planned to do and she seriously doubted there was a duke, duchess, or the like outside patiently sneaking up on the residence.

"Authorization acknowledged," Mia responded flatly. Lord Armon's seductive voice selection did not carry over to this administrative section of Mia's functions.

"Enable privacy protections. No commands available to guest users. Only authorized users are Rene Quentain and Solae Falia. Non-response to guest users. All system functions language change to Syshi. No translation or alternative languages available for guest users. Understood?" A blue circle appeared on the nearest wall and cycled a few times before flashing green.

"Changes are in effect," Mia responded in Syshi.

"We need to go to the master bedroom," Solae told Rene before taking his hand, slipping out the door, and creeping down the hall. The intruders had not yet infiltrated the house and they needed to make the most out of the time available to them. A dark blood stain led out of the master bedroom but Solae did her best to ignore the deep crimson saturation of the wood. Her stride and gait were uneven but the adrenaline pumping through her system was making the throbbing in her thigh much less noticeable.

Lord Armon's quarters were lavish enough to include a hot tub, a bed that would have comfortably slept half a dozen, two large sofas carved out of antique wood and upholstered in silken fabric, a tinted window wall, a mirror on the ceiling, and an a statue of two lovers embraced in a surprisingly chaste embrace. Solae moved towards a picture frame on the east wall which she pushed upwards, to the right, up again, and to the left. The frame receded into the wall and was replaced by a small hand indention. "This is the only place I can think of we can go right now. I apologize in advance," she warned as her palm was scanned and index finger pricked. A pleasant chime indicated Solae had passed the test.

"Maybe I was with him for the hot tub," she joked dryly. "This way," she gestured towards the master bathroom. This room had not been tarnished by the massacre that preceded their retreat to the estate. A shower inlaid with glossy polished stone murals depicting the heavens was ahead and to the left, one of its sides resting against the exterior wall, yet 2/3 of the floor was absent. A staircase had appeared in its place leading downwards and in the direction of the wall itself.

With Solae's urging Rene reluctantly followed. The staircase was cramped and tight, meant only for one, but with Solae leading the way it was not overly difficult to navigate. Once the system sensed Solae was descending the gap in the floor they had entered through it had sealed the opening shut again. Even with the closest of inspections Lord Armon's shower would only appear to be a wasteful flexing of his narcissism and wealth. The stairs curled down past the first floor and almost twenty feet below ground before emptying into a private entertainment room approximately the size of a guest bedroom. "Entry and exit for indiscretions," Solae explained. "I only used it a couple times so I don't recall where the tunnel ends."