The Price
by YEN
11/7/99
final edit (02/05/2000)
Hyuga stared at the door, pondering at the situation he was in.
He glanced down at himself and shifted uncomfortably. The Shevat garb he
was in was comfortable, even more so than the Solarian attire he was accustomed
to. However, that didn't mean he was at ease with it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...I can go...?
Yes, you are not a prisoner. Surely, you must have realized that by now.
...
However, I understand your difficulty. You have failed in your mission to sabotage Shevat's generators. No doubt, your superior officers in Solaris are not at all pleased with you.
...
You are welcome to stay here in Shevat or if you wish, go down to the surface-
Are you not concern that I will make another attempt on the generators?
No, you will not do something so foolish...
Why do you say that?
Because your fleet has abandoned you, Commander Hyuga Ricadeau.
... I must commend that Shevat's episonage system is quite efficient... Only the highest levels of the Solarian government know about me... or is it because of your unique talent, Lady Yui Gaspar?
I'm flattered, Commander, I never realized that Solaris would have such detailed information on Shevat. I thought only the ranking echelons received close attention-
The Premier Swordsmaster of Shevat is no ordinary citizen, nor is the granddaughter of one of the Wisemen of Shevat.
I am honored.
You are also one of the reasons for the Invasion Fleet.
... I see... because of my talent... But how did you know...? Nikolai?!
You are very perceptive.
How are he and Maria?
... They are serving Solaris, as all of us do.
... I have heard rumors... From what I have gathered, our torture policy is nothing compared to what you people do, even to Solarian citizens.
... They are not rumors.
... Even if you had succeeded in sabotaging the generators, and Shevat was invaded, you still wouldn't have taken me prisoner.
...
The privilege that I grant to my enemies
I also extend to myself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Yui Gaspar puzzles me, thought Hyuga as he sat motionless on a suspended step leading up to her house. He blinked and reach up to adjust his glasses. The familiar action arrested in mid-rise when he remembered they were not his glasses. Frowning, he took the pair off and stared at them, remembering when he received them from her.
Why are you being so kind to me?
I do not know why...
Pity and compassion so clear in those eyes...
His
jaw hardened as he replaced the glasses over his own eyes.
...Already,
she knows too much about me... Her talent... I had not believed what Balthasar
had said about her... Although they certainly did...
Your primary task is to infiltrate Shevat
and to pave the way for the invasion fleet. After securing the country,
you are to capture certain individuals and make sure they are kept alive
and reasonably unharmed...
The Three Wise Men of Shevat possess extraordinary
skills. Isaac Balthazar, Gaspar, and Taura Melchior. Within their DNA,
certain genes, usually dormant, are unlocked. Of the three, only Gaspar's
gene sequence remains unknown to us. The man himself has gone into hiding
as well as the other two Wise Men. Fortunately, he has family on Shevat...
My duty... Hyuga stood up slowly
and started walking down towards the city proper. ...It
is not yet over...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yui watched as he walked away. She was sitting on her favorite spot
on a grassy knoll suspended just beside the roof of her home. She sighed
softly and bent to place her chin on her knees, her arms wrapped tightly
around them. She stared thoughtfully at his back as he went farther away.
I
saved you once, Hyuga Ricadeau, but that doesn't mean I can be merciful
twice...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uncle, why am I different?
What do you mean, little one?
... I hear things... Other people's thoughts-
Shh..., child, don't say that aloud. I
will teach you how we can talk in secret...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yui!" Hyuga stiffened almost imperceptibly and turned nonchantly to where the shout had come from. His height allowed him to have a near unobstructed view of a young man running straight towards him. Around him, other people went on about their own businesses. Efficiently, he took a step back just in time to prevent a collision with the evidently excited lad.
He stumbled slightly as he passed Hyuga, glancing at him with wide surprised eyes and mumbling a hasty thanks before looking back to the reason for his rush. Hyuga turned to look as well.
Yui Gaspar was also looking back at him, her eyes calmly returning his regard. She nodded at him before looking away to smile a greeting at the other man.
"Hello, Ishmael..."
The rest of their conversation was lost to him as he continued on
his way, but even with that minute information, he was already thinking
furiously. ...Ishmael? That could only be Ishmael
Kiraga, the youngest son of Raban Kiraga, a high-ranking member in Shevat's
Council. ...They are expendable. He had other more important
people to be concerned with. I will deal with
her first...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I may as well tell you it was a mistake to keep me alive.
You do not have to tell me. I know that, but it has been done.
Do you think I am grateful to you for saving my life?
No, you are insulted. I understand. I would be also if I were in your place.
No doubt Shevat doesn't deal well with traitors.
She doesn't, but neither is she fond of spies.
You do realize that because of your actions, you have unleashed a wolf in sheep's clothing in Shevat.
Be warned, there is a shepherd for every flock.
You are too compassionate for your own good. Such a weakness has a great price to be paid.
... Yes, I am already paying the price.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am his target now... Yui thought as she walked back to her house, musing at her predicament. ...All this trouble just because I didn't have the courage to kill him... She sighed softly, pausing to look at the night sky around her. There was no moon tonight, but the stars lit up the darkness, and Shevat basked in their glow. ... The dutiful thing to do would be to turn him in before he causes more problems..., but that would mean my own death as well.
Shevat disliked traitors even more than Solaris. The Council would pay little heed even to the fact that she was Wiseman Gaspar's granddaughter.
She sighed again and continued on her way. At least I know he won't do anything else until he gets rid of me.
"Good evening." Not at all surprised, she paused and glanced to her side to see him standing just a step behind her. And it begins... "Hello, Mr. Ricadeau," she greeted back politely, turning to face him. ...He hides his thoughts well...
He smiled at her, his dark eyes enigmatic behind grandfather's glasses. "Beautiful night is it not, Lady Gaspar?"
"Yes, it is," she replied. ...A friendly game... "Is the night sky as beautiful where you come from?"
His head tilted slightly, his eyes shifting away from her for an instant. "No," he answered honestly, "I don't look at the night sky often." ...The stars beneath your feet...
"That is too bad..."
He straightened. "Must you always be so sympathetic for others."
... A hit, a palpable hit... "I'm sorry, I didn't for it to sound that way." She smiled. "May I ask where you will be staying tonight?"
A slight pause. "At a hotel. A proper hotel," he added when he saw her smile widened.
Yui laughed. "I do not suppose you will ever forgive me for that sponge bath I gave you."
He frowned and crossed his arms, looking uncomfortable. "There are other more efficient and practical means of disinfecting a patient. You didn't have to resort to that-"
"Actually, I didn't even know what a sponge bath was, much less a sponge." She covered her mouth, forcing herself not to giggle at the confused expression on his face. "But you were so insistent that I give you one."
"..."
*********************
I must go home now.
I will escort you.
That is not necessary. Shevat is a very safe place.
But I insist. Even if it is unnecessary, I will feel better. It is not as safe where I come from.
... Very well. You are quite a gentleman, Mr. Ricadeau.
Please call me Hyuga...
Author's note:
Okay... So I managed to make it innocent so far... (sweatdrop)
Yen^^
alex@gsilink.com