Avalon:Volume 0 Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - The Undeclared Triumvirate

The dimly-lit room erupted from a tiny hole to fill my vision, and the hum of mechanical rotors resounded from the shadowy corners of the ceiling as thin rays of targeting lasers homed in upon us from heavily armed auto-turrets.

Teleportation was bad enough. But to find myself on the wrong end of a barrel half the times I teleport was even worse...

"Stand down!" A crisp voice called out from behind us.

I spun around and met eye to eye with a young lady no older than twenty in appearance (probably just under thirty in actuality) standing before the passage to an equally dim hallway. She was around one-sixty-nine (~5' 7") in height and average of build, clad in white archaic plate armor with a golden cross pattee engraved across the chest. A white tunic laid under her armor, billowing out below her cuirass like a skirt and reaching down to her greaves-protected knees. Framed by hazelnut hair that was pinned back on one side and cascaded elegantly down her shoulders, her facial features were soft, cute to the point of being almost childish, yet her wary rose-colored eyes examined me like a hawk before turning towards Shirayuki, still stern but softening considerably to match as she gave a perfect salute.

"Miko-Hime Shirayuki, Jiguang Shitai, welcome to Château de Falaise. May I see your identi-EEEK!"

Her face flushed scarlet as her entire body jolted.

"Still want the ID Linnaea? or can we skip the formalities?"

Linnaea glared daggers at Shirayuki, who smiled back innocently, whimsical light dancing in her eyes.

"I told you to stop harassing people through their auras!"

"Not everyone, just you~" Shirayuki said like it's the most natural thing in the world.

"W-what is that suppose to make me!"

"A cute sensitive soul who's fun to tease~"

"I am not here for your enjoyment!"

"Relax, I'm just helping you loosen up a bit. You were making me feel like some political emissary."

Linnaea's lips quivered several more times before she sighed in resignation. As Shirayuki stepped up and patted her on the spaulders, a smile finally tugged at the edges of her mouth. It was awkward, yet it still fit her far more naturally than her strict look.

"I was under the impression that diplomacy was exactly what you came here to do."

Shirayuki tilted her head and shrugged.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that --- and thanks for setting this up on short notice under such circumstances; knew I could count on you~"

"T-thank you, but I am just doing my job."

Linnaea's response was stiff, but even its formality couldn't hide her bashfulness as her cheeks deepened and her eyes averting away, albeit just barely.

Shirayuki's knowing grin spoke louder than words: this was exactly the response she sought.

(Knight of noble upbringing, meet the party tease... oh wait you're already close friends, boring.)

"Oh, and you can just call her Aurora, it's far more comfortable than your German-ese anyway~"

To be fair, Linnaea's attempt at Chinese had been fairly decent, despite her obvious German accent. But she nevertheless agreed and nodded apologetically to Aurora.

Abbess (direct translation of Shitai) Han Rong, style name Jiguang, was the leader of the more canonical Buddhist nuns within the Eclipse, which made up roughly half of their personnel. Because Chinese names, and especially hers, were notoriously difficult to pronounce for most people who grew up on English as the primary language, many simply called her Aurora, a literal translation of her style name.

It was a rather appropriate name too, as Aurora's cream-color hair was almost white. Its length flowed past her thin waist, which only added to her white robes, wispy figure, and pale, beautiful complexion --- she would almost look like a snow spirit had not for the red hakama skirt. Aurora was also the tallest here at one-seventy-four (~5'9"), and although her expression always had a serene and pleasant smile on, she never opened her eyes and rarely spoke unless asked.

It was interesting how her mainstream Buddhists and Shirayuki's Shintoists (who also practice some Buddhism) could coexist so easily within a single pseudo-religious organization --- a sign of tolerance not usually found within Western faiths. Although when I asked why the nuns adopted the Japanese miko attire, Aurora simply responded that 'shaving one's head is too unfashionable for recruitment'.

"...And forgive me, but whom would you be?" Linnaea's examining eyes pulled me back to the present.

Shirayuki had asked me to wear my old uniform instead of the Eclipse's robes, although she insisted on dyeing the blouse and skirt (magically of course) from white lines on black to black on white.

I was still trying to decide how to identify myself, other than just by name, when Shirayuki interjected to help.

"Kannon Reginbrandt. Bit complicated, but you can take my word that she has important information for Sidika."

Linnaea wasn't quite satisfied, but she nodded in acceptance anyways.

"In that case, please follow me."

As she turned around and headed into the windowless hall with damp, chipped walls, passing by two other auxilia and another Knight of the Cross just outside, my eyes were drawn to the apparatus on her back. It was a golden cross, the size of a large kite shield, with black trimmed edges and a black eagle crest in the center. The way she wore it was tilted, with a saber handle lodged into the top of the cross, which protruded out from above her right shoulder for easy reach. Two lines of runic writing were engraved in different languages just above the eagle crest.

(Helfen, Wehren, Heilen.)

"Help, Defend, Heal," Shirayuki answered my focused curiosity that read over the channel, "German motto of the Teutonic Knights of Old Terra."

"What about Etiamsi omnes, ego non?"

"Latin for 'even if all others, I will not' --- the need for independent moral judgment. You can tell the Order of the Golden Cross takes great pride in their history, which can be traced wayyyy--way back to the Medieval Ages of Old Terra, supposedly having joined the crusading Teutonics to avoid prosecution."

"In Avalonian history they're known for the so-called 'Bureaucratic Inquisition'. Meant well, but was too weak and broke their coffers for a while instead. They defected in whole during the revolution and mostly avoided the purges afterward. But even now they're still the weakest of the main Knightly Orders."

I would be lying if I claimed to have gotten over my contempt for Shirayuki, but she has been tremendously helpful and friendly to me despite my more... uncooperative attitudes.

"Wouldn't that kind of historical consistency give them a decent reputation?" It was closer to the other way around based on my reading... even if they were 1st District documents.

"Text history is easily changed and most people won't dig far. The Seventh Cross didn't help either, even if they pretended it was a rogue branch."

"Pretended?"

"Horseradish for public deniability. They're sanctioned; we're walking right behind one~"

"You mean she's a terrorist?" I blurted out, mentally (and thankfully).

"Kannon, I would advise against using that word so casually~" Aurora's voice was as friendly as ever, but the overwhelming pressure behind it effortlessly sent a shiver up my spine.

"Yes Ma'am."

Even though I couldn't see her face since she walked in front of me and Aurora, I could feel Shirayuki chuckling silently before continuing on:

"Few know with all the record cover-ups, but Linnaea Tesarik is both a Seventh Cross ops leader and the daughter of Cross Knights Grand Master Atanas Guderian. With that kind of connection you can be sure of where the leadership stands."

Since she knew such sensitive information...

"Are you allies?"

"Not quite, but close enough. Though this was from that one time when I got Parzival drunk~" her humored voice oddly filled with pride, "ah, that would be Holy Judgment Parzival Staufen, one of the two Seventh Cross Komturs and---"

"I apologize in advance for the accommodations in which the Marshal shall receive you in."

Linnaea's firm voice interrupted our chat over the Comm Ring as we passed yet another set of retracting blast doors and into a corridor of exposed gray ceramacrete, continuing our descent into what is obviously the fortified bunker of an old military base.

"Château de Falaise had lay abandoned since the Revolutionary War and was only reactivated a month ago. The new command bunker we are in has yet to finish, but it is also the only secure and sufficiently private complex the 2nd District would lend us. We created some furnishings by conjuration, but the Marshal forbid any further decoration given the, ardor, in which Colonel Hans-Rudel took upon the task."

"That's fine. It'll be just like camping out... underground."

Shirayuki replied just before a final set of reinforced gates began to open, revealing a strangely contrasting room. Its exposed ceramacrete walls and floor were bared like an unfurnished basement, but a richly decorated rug filled most of the room. The round table and chairs sitting on top, while simple in materials, were meticulously detailed. It was as though everything was made by a poor artist who lacked materials but invested creative aspiration in abundance.

Only one person sat on the table, and I immediately recognized the soft black curls and crimson-red eyes as the image of Marshal Sidika. Despite being well into her thirties, which meant she was probably over a hundred years of actual age, Sidika Krivoshein had a firm figure that would easily pass for a model was she somewhat taller. Her deep eyes, soft nose, and fair lips formed a perfect mixture between Northern European and Middle-Eastern traits, and the large red garnet that decorated her elegant hair bun accentuated her grace and beauty, as though a dark red rose in full bloom. A devilish smile which seemed to perpetuate as her natural expression only made her more enticing.

Two auxilia guards and another knight, in gold-on-white tunic rather than armor, stood by the walls, flanking her from opposite corners of the hexagon room, their postures quickly stiffening and their expressions unreadable upon the door's opening. The fifth and last person was leaning back against a chair before he quickly swiveled around and smoothed out his uniform to perfection with a single passing tug.

Short, neatly-trimmed golden hair, emerald-green eyes brimming with energy, and a boyishly handsome face; Kayeten Hans-Rudel looked far better in person than on hologram, with the tall and firm build of an old Terra Scandinavian that was just the right compromise between strength and grace. His smile felt unrestrained and infectious, despite being quickly summoned over the still fading light of worried concern in his eyes. Like Arkadi, he looked just under twenty years of age, and probably less than thirty in reality.

"Star-Marshal Sidika Krivoshein, Colonel Kayeten Hans-Rudel, may I introduce Miko-Hime Shirayuki Kaguya, Jiguang Shitai Han Rong, and Kannon Reginbrandt of the Moonlit Eclipse."

Linnaea actually did her best to pronounce the formal Japanese name Nisshoku Getsumei, yet for some unusual reason the ring decided to translate anyway. She then gave a knightly salute, right arm bent and hand held before her chest, before stepping aside.

Sidika was in motion the instant Linnaea finished, eyes focused upon us, assessing with intense interest as she made her way swiftly around the table:

"It's an honor to meet you in person, Princess Kaguya. I've heard--"

The crisp sound of impact came from the right-side chair just as Sidika neared it. Her eyes twitched, her cheek jerked, and her step staggered for the slightest second...

One of the three most powerful people on this side of the universe just walked into a chair.

Then her amused expression and impish smile returned, flawless; even her soft soprano voice did not falter for a pause:

"--much about you from the Cross Order."

Shirayuki stepped up and shook Sidika's offered hand before the Marshal could step on her foot, then gave her a friendly pat on the shoulders too...

My stomach began tying itself in knots.

"Shirayuki is fine, Sidika, the honor is all mine; and to you as well, Kayeten," she turned towards him with an apologetic smile and nodded, "I take back what I said in the gateport four days ago; you're a dedicated man for opposing me given past circumstances."

The smile froze on Kayeten's face as his eyes widened at the implications.

Even Sidika raised her eyebrows, before her grin grew into a faint smirk.

"Your reputation certainly does precede you."

"Only the good ones..."

I could almost hear a wink in the Miko-Hime's playful voice.

"...Let me introduce you to my second-in-command Aurora, whom your intel dossiers probably call 'Frost Laser' after she razed an entire base--"

The guards, already suspicious of the alien redhead before them, entered paranoia mode instantly.

"--And my tac witch Kannon, whom was a cute prisoner I managed to capture from the Black Prince just the other day when he tried to kill you--"

The ace colonel, despite his full recovery in expression, relapsed into stunned shock.

"--Our wish today is but a simple one; we offer you an edict of alliance."

The military dictator's mask of calm, honed by decades of political experience, fell to the floor and shattered.

And I, who had never been informed of my promotion from Prison-of-War until now, discovered for the first time how hard it was to fulfill the urge of crawling into a hole to die when half my upbringing had just been violated by a careless torrent of words.

Then, just to prove that the impossible was not over, Shirayuki continued on to break every rule of diplomatic contact known to humankind.

----- * * * -----

It felt weird watching the supreme commander across the table pinch and stretch her own cheeks before asking in a still-bewildered-but-at-least-humored tone:

"So now that we know reality hasn't collapsed --- what are you here for again?"

"A-lli-ance," Shirayuki accentuated, fingers gesturing.

Shirayuki's relentless surprise attack by words had battered down the barriers of formality with shocking alacrity, and by now the three of them, including Kayeten, were almost joking with each other like old friends. I doubted the same bonds of understanding could solidify quite so quickly, but the apparent rate of growth was still astronomical.

"So really --- who are you? And what have you done with the real Shirayuki?" the Marshal teased. Then in all seriousness, with a touch of exasperation: "I was told again and again, complained to and pestered even, that the Eclipse refused to make pacts even with natural allies."

"Atanas?" Shirayuki's head tilted. Sidika nodded, and the younger redhead shrugged back, covering her own vexation with nonchalance:

"I still won't sign with him. True allies don't need an alliance, no more than true friends need asking, or true lovers a marriage. They're already thinking of one another where it serves. What lays on top is but a necessity for the insecure, a formality for appearances. Besides, his conservative half certainly doesn't need another rope for making demands upon me."

Her words pierced straight into my chest like needles, calling forth memories of vanity, of when I sought and received recognition for my skills, of silence and depression during times without.

Agreement, dissent, surprise, anguish, regret... all of it topped off by admiration followed closely by a growing sense of inferiority.

(She declared herself like it was nothing, denying commonality without even worrying about others' thoughts of her beliefs.)

Yet on the other side, Sidika smiled with relief, as though sanity was restored in completion once more. After all, there was no reason for Shirayuki to trust her, and therefore this alliance was necessary.

Kayeten chuckled as he smoothly put his teacup back down without a single sound:

"There is a simple elegance in the unrestrainted lifestyle. Quite charming for a beautiful woman as yourself, and certainly befitting of the flawless will blessed by your name."

"Awww your famous pick-up lines are so sweet~! but I said a-lli-ance~ not political matrimony."

"I solemnly swear no such motivations were involved! I merely wished to admire a truth of nature."

Kayeten's brilliant white smile back in full contagious mode.

"Besides, there's already a beautiful young lady in this room who had captured my heart's devotion."

For a brief second I thought Kayeten looked at me, then realized his focus was further away, towards the knight Linnaea who still stood by the wall behind us. I could almost feel the pressure building behind me, held back from steaming fury by sheer determination as amusement danced in the Colonel's eyes.

Meanwhile, Sidika surveyed the whole scene like a much-amused parent about to speak of 'the joys of youth', before turning to Shirayuki once again:

"You have to understand though, that few of us are gifted, and none perfect."

The younger woman mulled it over, like an adolescent receiving wisdom from her elder, before she shrugged with a smile:

"I try."

There was a hint of apology in her eyes, and her first glance was directed my way.

Its impact struck me breathless.

My intuition saw exactly what it was for --- when she pushed a girl to admit an impossible identity.

(I can't accept it.)

It would be declaring that impossibility truth.

(I can't---)

Shirayuki's eyes dilated and quickly looked away, while my mind slowly pacified itself as the Sidika returned to topic:

"Hostilities have been building up gradually over two past decades, and I believe that open conflict will likely befall Avalon in but few years. It's certainly advantageous for me to support the enemy of my foes, but first I must ask: just how far are you willing to support us?"

"The complete support of Aura Dominion, open sharing of all non-cloistered intelligence both ways, and strategic coordination with 3rd District HQ."

Sidika nodded in acceptance, "And your primary demands?"

"Supplies, a complete cease to all raids upon us within the 3rd, and... a specific opportunity."

Shirayuki passed the proverbial baton to me with a nod.

"We wish to use the current situation to bait -- although he'll find here even without leaking info -- and to capture Arkadi Simarshall, the Black Prince and Commandant of the Black Hand."

Kayeten almost jolted like he just had a heart attack, staring into me with suspicious uncertainty. Meanwhile Sidika's eyebrows vanished into her bangs, gazing intently as though I was some strange alien creature that was difficult to identify.

Long, long seconds dragged by in stunned silence...

Then, both of their eyes sprang wide a second time in surprised recognition.

"Hey! That's cheating, stop sync'ing your senses with Infinite Junction!" Shirayuki called them out with mocked outrage.

Infinite Junction... the title of the 3rd Arvitor of the project. Between him (or her) and Holy Judgment would give them support from two of seven Arvitors. Aura Dominion makes three.

"Isn't it the same for you to hold back something like this?" Sidika answered, as her eyes continued their uncomfortable focus on me. "How's the eye."

It was my turn for astonishment this time as I realized what they sought after, and nausea rose at the way they were staring at me... like adventurers who just found an ancient artifact, key to the lost Atlantis.

"Do you want another Arvitor that badly? A laurel for the crown?"

Kayeten looked aside quickly, embarrassed. "Sorry, I was just surpris---"

"Not a chance," Sidika spoke firmly, stern eyes still trained on me. "The 'Republic' needs Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, not Gaius Julius Caesar. Fifty years of reformation, if the system could even work, and not a second more. If the Arvitor's power may lessen the blood shed by my soldiers and the toil upon our worlds, then of course I want it."

Within her eyes was the look of an executive considering the value of a potential asset...

It wasn't a stare that I hadn't experienced. There were many managers who looked upon an interviewee and saw only benefits and costs, skills and deficiencies, not --- a comrade who they could share their endeavors with.

But so long as I was normal human, the same as them, then they at least saw me as a person.

Yet to the people of this world, who gazed upon Arvitors as faeries found within crystals, batteries to power their starships and other wondrous construction...

It was a sickening feel, to be objectified so... and far worse than those men who assessed me as a girl.

(How does Shirayuki stand it?)

"Because my actions are known far and wide; the methods and choices that define me as a person speaks far more than mere classifications or appearances. Experience, responsibility, and goals --- not just usefulness and skills --- that's what makes me normal to them."

Useful, skillful, they were recognition that I sought the most. Were they wrong?

It was like a Résumé, a Curriculum Vitae; the more defined one's experiences and goals, the more responsibilities one has taken, the more irreplaceable one's value as a being within the company, rather than being closer to an asset.

"But Fifty years? Is that how long she wants us for? ...And what of Cincinnatus?"

"Fifty years is the Sovereign's term of service per Imperium Project design; Cincinnatus is an Roman Senator from Old Earth, twice granted supreme power of dictatorship, and held it for not a day longer than necessary each. Don't worry about them for now; just take a deep breath."

Shirayuki then switched to open voice:

"I can't give you the support I don't have, nor the understanding that we don't have."

Sidika frowned oddly, and considered it, and thought it over, while her focus kept on me. Then, without hesitation:

"No."

"Mother! You---"

It was Kayeten's infuriated voice that shouted, but Sidika cut him off with a single glare from her red eyes, intense enough to scorch metal, let alone a rebellious child.

Shirayuki looked over me with a worried expression and sighed.

"Why?"

"How many campaigns lost by a single intelligence failure?" Sidika spoke solemnly, eyes still focused upon me. "How many soldiers dead, and wars lost, because of asymmetrical information? If such a potential were available... which general in sanity would not reach for it with all they have?"

Her gaze was no longer one of mere consideration and balance, but one of anger and simmering fury, as though crying out in disbelief at my rejection --- why not?

She was asking me to accept the impossible, or at least, acknowledge the improbable.

( not done )

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