Calysta promised the children she would be right back and proceeded to the bathroom. It wasn't two seconds before she realized the tall Udine woman was following her, back straight and alert. Calysta said nothing until they reached the bathroom door and Rezna began to enter it with her.
"Please wait out here," Calysta said, pushing the barthroom door aside.
"Councilwoman, you hired me on for a job," Rezna shrug, "The way I see it, you can go in there now and I go in with you, or you can wait 10 seconds or me to sweep it."
Calysta's jaw clamped so tight she could hear her teeth creak with the effort. Why didn't anybody simply listen to her? She spent an awful lof of time listening patiently to what others had to say, yet when it came to her own orders, her own simple existence, she gets screamed and back talked, jeered...pushed back...
Her mind railed against everything she wanted to say to the cruelness outside, not just for herself but for her children and the children in the hospital and everyone else. It was the same white hot rage and bitterness that she had fought so hard to keep control of as a child. To let go of.
"Sweep it." she said through her teeth as evenly as she could.
Rezna didn't question her tone and simply walked forward with her long legs, then dissappeared into the bathroom. Thirty seconds later, she returned and nodded. "Safe. I'll be out here."
Calysta mustered a curt nod and then walked into the bathroom. Rather than going into a stall, she put her hands on either side of a sink and sighed. Tiny drips of water fell into the basin and rolled down to the drain, but they weren't from the faucet. She had just put her children through something she never wanted them to see. Ever. The looks on their faces were stark in her mind. It could have been so much worse though. A memory flashed back and a man's voice screamed at her. "Genetic defect!" Then pain on her wrist. Calysta looked down at her wrist and saw bruises popping up already where Cypher and gripped in her rage and terror. This time, it wasn't just her she had to protect. It was her children too.
How would she be heard if the purists drowned her out? She couldn't and wouldn't let them compromise the tour. It was too important. She had to be louder, stronger than that. Illya had gotten their attention. It helped being the Hero of Kinte, and a well known fan favorite. She was none of those things, but if they listened to him maybe some of what she said might get through. As long as she could get through to them, it didn't matter how it happened, right? She could do this. She had to. Illya and the Chippeqouti were counting on her. The entire home planet was. She had to be better than this.
She looked at herself in the mirror and signed before grabbing a paper towel and dabbing at her eyes. Guilt sat heavy on her, but she had to be prepared to meet those children. They didn't need to know anything was wrong. This was their day. She thought back briefly to what Illya had said to Swyft's son the day before.
"Well, love. Let's see how giant I can be," she whispered, her voice a little froggy.
When she was looking better, she sat her spine straight and her chin high and walked out of the bathroom. Rezna followed her wordlessly for a moment, looked to her. "You know, on my planet they don't care what you're mixed with. I don't get it."
"Neither do I," Calysta replied as they walked toward decontamination.
"Aye, you would have been left on a cliff top to die," Rezna shrugged, "No protests there."
Calysta raised a brow at her guard. "Aye I suppose that's one way of solving the problem."
"But it if was the right way to solve it," Rezna mused, then grinned widely, "You wouldn't have this excellent body guard with you."
Calysta let out a strained but genuine laugh and shook her head. She had been helping Rezna navigate life on Kinte when she arrived for sometime nad helped the woman get set up at Skycorp after she passed entrance exams. The great thing about Rezna was her confidence and Calysta appreciated it. She arrived at the decontamination room smiling because of that and they went through the process of light exposure and dressing in plastic before they entered.
As soon as she hit the door, the gaggle of little girls met her, already excited. They had discovered the boxes she had sent and were eager to look inside. She waved them to the side room and one by one helped them into their new dresses. She had ordered them in different styles with every color except blue. They begged her to do their hair too and she chuckled. "Aye, a princess always has her hair done too. Let's give you all beautiful braids." It didn't take long. Their hair was thin from medication or patchy in some places. She simply combed through it and braided around it so they never saw then thin spots, then clipped beautiful flowers in their hair.
One by one, she sent them out to the main room, calling them each beautiful princesses. They scuttled out in puffs of tulle and sparkles, holding their skirts and giggling wildly. When she finished the last girl, Calysta emerged from the room and saw Illya with one of the little girls in his arms, dancing with her. She grinned as she stood in the door way and watched him dance. Both of them were smiling as they swirled around the tile floor. This is what she had come there to do. Make children happy.
Soon after that it was tea time and they all sat down for snacks. The boys had asked if there was something for them, at one point, and she nodded. "Aye, but they're being made specially for you," she assured them, "They'll arrive after I'm gone, but I expect a hologram when you get them, yeah?" Her children played happily with the others in the ward. Cypher showed them adventure stories and when he was told he couldn't show them any wrestling moves, he simply shrugged and nodded. "Eh, we try someting else. Yah like playing games?"
Lohgan was running her own princess school, showing the little girls how to bow and courtsey and how a Chippeqouti Princess drinks her tea. Then she brought out the coloring books and they helped her design beautiful dresses on butcher paper. Calysta listened to the girls twitter about where needed more sequins and bows.
Despite the rough start to the day, and how the children reacted, this had been worth the effort.
Eventually, it was time for the children to rest again and she knew how tired they would be. They told the sweet kids goodbye and then went to visit the other wards. Those were always more difficult and if anything, they resolved in her mind to be better. She had to speak for them because she had the biggest voice any half breed ever had before. No one else could do this but her.
It was difficult knowing she was leaving some of those children and saying goodbye to them for the last time, but there was no real time for tea to process that like yesterday. They were do back at the coliseum to prepare for the festival that evening. The children would be attending with them. All of them. That meant extra prep work and coordination. However, Lohgan and Cypher needed a nap in the hours between the hospital visit and the festival.
When Illya offered a bit of respite for her too, she took it and slinked off to the bedroom with him. Calysta sat down next to Illya and part of her worried he was about to tell her how upset he was she dragged the children into such a mess, even if ultimately she didn't regret it. His voice was gentle though and she relaxed some when he said it wasn't bad. When he spoke, his accent was heavier but she understood what he meant. They were fair questions and she folded her hands thoughtfully in her lap, thinking carefully before she spoke. He wanted to help her and she had to think of how.
"A theme?" She hadn't thought about it before but it wasn't a bad idea to have a theme. She had done most of her work being herself but that wasn't enough for these people. She had to stand up and be heard. Her mind went back to the day. She wasn't simply strong on her own. Illya had been there and Rezna. Her children too. They all came from different backgrounds and were wholly different people, but they had done something wonderful today as a team. That solidified her theme.
"Unity. We're stronger together, Illya. I really do believe that. The purists see me as the weak link. But together. United? There's nothing we can't achieve. That should be our focus. What do you think?"
The answer Kalizda gave was very pleasing. Illya waited until she was finished and then he smiled. "Unity was going tah be meh first suggestion for yah. Dis es good topic tah make yah teme. We already begin setting for dis and et es someting we jes keep on building. Dah Chippequoti focus has been tah work harder at being part of Alliance and dis es part of unity. Den tahday we address concern of singling out mixed blood. Et es also important for war."
These were just a few things Illya wanted to point out in advance so she could see where it was all tying in together. "What are some areas dat yah see as concern and yah want tah address and den what are strong points dat yah can congratulate yah people on? Den how are yah working tah achieve dese tings wit yah people?"
Calysta's titled her head some, thinking about to handle his barrage of questions regarding the idea of her recently chosen theme. The theme was something he looked almost pleased to hear about. She knew that Illya and the other Elders had been working extremely hard to be apart of of the Alliance. "The purist issue is a main goal. People who don't follow the purist message may get angry at the purists. I don't want to start a civil war over my blood. I want to draw out the best people and our allies on Ewen. That means making good contacts and showing myself as willing not to lump them all in with purists ties."
She shifted a little on the bed and rubbed her hands together a little. "I've made good strides with them, but that's where the purists are most prolific. Then there are more remote continents who often don't feel like they see the limelight very much. When I visit, it brings business and I want to make my presence good for them. They want to be heard and their voice represented in the Alliance. I had planned on spending extra time in these places to remind them that they are a part of a whole and they are heard."
"We'll be parlaying with the Udine Colony as well and I would like them to join the Alliance, not just for our benefit but for their own safety. The same for the Terran Colonies," she continued, "There's...a bad taste in the mouths when it comes to Terrans on some of the Kaerelean views. They're sometimes seen as...taciturn and perhaps not as sophisticated. They couldn't come together when their planet needed it and wavered back and forth on entry into the Alliance long before Terra was lost to the Federation. I have hope that the Colonists are more open and solidified now that they are stable. Appearing there, and addressing my....my mistake...when I offered them sanctuary will be key. Then Uria, Reylia, Pyrta, Kinte.and the Chippeqouti... can always be counted on for solid backing and are good examples of unity. I would like to spot light smaller continents as well."
The answer was a bit scattered and close, but not quite was he was thinking. Despite his best attempt not to laugh Illya did a little bit. "Well, dat was good. Yah need some work. Eh...I will show yah good way tah start wit dis. What yah tell meh es all good tings and we use et all, but yah need yah whole message more togeter eh?" He couldn't think of the exact word he wanted, but the one he used was good enough.
"So, dah teme es unity. Yah are concerned wit some trends dat may cause some en Alliance to reject oters. Yah want tah prevent dis by nut making all inclusive statements and providing additional support tah bring dose into support of unity. Yah can congratulate many of dem for improvements and contributions dey have made tah unity of dah Alliance, or expressing dere desire tah be part of dah Alliance." Illya paused there and waited for her to catch up with where he was going.
"Dis es yah over arching teme. Yah plan for each place we visit. Den we talk about how dis looks for each place. We dun trow et all out dere right now. We take each place as et comes and we study et tah be sure dat dah data follows what we say and we are familiar wit dah trends so yah have knowledge dey cannot refute and yah have good tings tah encourage dem on and tings yah want tah see tah support unity, strengt of Alliance and tah see dah Federation ended. Dese are all good tings eh? Does dis make more sense now?"
He chuckled at her and her humor failed to rise up to find the joke. She knew she needed work. She just thought it hadn't been so glaringly obvious. Calysta listened and felt like a stone was dropped into her belly. He was trying to make sure she succeeded and what he said made sense. She should have worked harder or done better some how. These are things she was already doing in some form or fashion, but not in quite the format he suggested. What did she really know about all this anyways?
She was not a stateswoman and perhaps she really shouldn't be up there. But then there was all the good she had done with the kids at the hospital and for the Chips. The words from protestors came to mind and she nodded before they sucked her into too much. "Aye makes sense. We have one more day here, and then we can come up with a plan together for the next stop?"
It was easy to see by the way Kalizda's eyes first flashed to him and then away that she was not finding the humor he did in this. Illya was about to begin to explain himself and then she asked if they could plan for the next stop and Illya grinned and nodded. "Oh yes, we plan." He was not sure how to back track and correct his error, but he was going to try.
"I dun laugh because yah bad. I only take tings yah say to meh and help put dem in order tah create consistency. Yah got good start and here es good. Everyting yah do here has laid good foundation. Tomorrow yah make public statement of tings yah find great about Kinte and yah compliment dose dat rise up and show support for dah mixed blood. Witout knowing et, yah already carry all dis out wit Chippequoti and Kinte. I jes want tah make sure yah know tah keep doing dah same. Et helps tah line et out. I laugh because yah already jumping ahead. Jes be careful yah dun forget yah plan eh?"
Calysta looked at him, gazing into his bright green eyes. He wasnt trying to say these things because he didn't mean them. He wasn't trying to back track to make her feel better. Illya was honest with her, even if he was sometimes gentle in doing it. More importantly, he believed she could do something and he was one of the very few she knew meant it. Calysta nodded slowly and a small smile flickered to her lips. "I won't forget. Sometimes I remember things when they scream like that and its hard to focus. I spent a long time ignoring them and now that I'm in a position to be a voice for others...I was so angry...I didn't know what might come out of my mouth. The look on the children's faces. It...scared me. I don't know if that makes sense?"
She was quickly moving along and Illya wasn't quite done going over the part about plans for future tour locations. They could always finish talking about those places later. Illya hated to see her start out so well and then forget part way through the tour how she could deliver the message best. It was a common mistake for those that were newer to this kind of work. It was a mistake he had learned from. Now, he had another thing to talk with her about, the second subject. "Well, I tink yah did right ting. Tahday yah could nut speak because dey would see mixed blood defending mixed blood. Dah children see what happens, but dey also see most people dun support dah purists. Next time yah will be able tah talk about dis issue witout showing bad en public. Yah can speak wit grace. I did dah nasty part. Den yah jes speak of unity and strengts of research. Ehaui would like mention of dere work tah find cure. Et enhances yah message and yah speak well of dose showing support for dese children and encourage dem tah welcome dah children as dey are cured and go out tah begin dere lives. Dere es much success and dah children have a lot tah offer. Dis will nut be speech too far away. Et will be very soon."
What he said made sense and he saw how difficult it was to speak to them. He didn't think she had done the wrong thing. It wasn't like she hinged on his approval, but it was important to her to listen to him and to learn. He was trying his best to help her. Swallowing, she nodded and put a hand over his gently. "How soon would you say?"
Illya listened to her question and thought for a moment. "I tink yah could say after successful treatment of tree or four children. Ehaui have samples for two more and dey will be staggering surgeries. Dah first surgery dey tell meh will be en about 1 week. Dey put dah marrow on fast grow plates and dey plan tah visit children tomorrow and begin merge of dere bone marrow on plates. So eh, about 2 weeks from now we will see tests from Ehaui showing enhanced immune function and den en about 5 weeks dey will have sign of new immune system and function. Dey will be able tah go home wit dere parents en 6-8 weeks after surgery ef all goes well. Ehaui are being very cautious wit dem." It wasn't that long when some of the places they needed to make a trip to would take a minimum of a week or two. "Last ting, yah keep en mind dat I can help yah wit some statements wit public witout diminishing yah position as Councilwoman. Yah tell meh what yah want from meh when yah ask meh tah help yah plan eh?"
Calysta listened to him explain and nodded, her mind turning over the information. "That's a good idea...it will only be a few weeks and I would want to try to visit the children again when their treatment is done." When he mentioned him helping with statements Calysta looked at him. "I don't want you to have to subject you to that, but I will warn you before hand. There will be times there they won't listen to me. It's maddening. I will tell you what I need though. Can I start right now?"
Now that Kalizda was understanding it was going to be easier. Illya gave her a wink and nodded. "Yeah, yah start now. I jes make sure dat I listen tah what yah say and plan so dat when I get questions from people dat want tah talk to meh I stay consistent. Now, what yah need from meh?"
Calysta's smiled genuinely at his wink and her cheeks turned a rosy shade. "Well, the first thing. I need a hug. Maybe a kiss. Okay...definitely a kiss. Then I'll tell you about the festival tonight and what we can do to work together...I dont have to do this alone."
"Dat's easy." Slipping a hand under her legs he pulled her onto his lap and held her close while he kissed her. It was fun to get a little carried away before they had to get serious about plans. "Mmmmm...jes tell meh when ets good enough." Giving her a few more kisses he planned to keep going till she said stop.
Calysta wrapped her arms around his neck when he pulled her into his lap. She chuckled a little as his kissed her. He was such good husband. A good man. She kissed on him right back, peppering him with sweet pecks until he started to get a little breathless and she was too. They still had to go to work that night to the festival and there wasn't enough time to properly make love to him the way she wanted.
Slowly she pulled her lips back and gave him a fierce hug before clearing her throat. "After the festival..." It took her a few more minutes to calm down. "Um...at the festival, I will have to make a speech. It made be hard to get their attention at first. Especially if there are protestors there. It would be helpful if you could grab their attention. We're there to celebrate unity, yeah?"
“Ooh yeah, I like dat kind of assignment.” Illya almost laughed at the very idea and kissed her one more time. “Let’s get ready and yah jes know dat yah will have all dere attention.”
Calysta chuckled and stole one more kiss before she went to get ready. While she worked, she told Illya all about Kinte.
"Kinte used to be one big continent," she told him, as she got dressed, "One of the largest on the planet. During the war against the Reylian Empire around 700 years ago, the continent was bombed. Reys tried to destroy it before the Alliance could take the major trade hub, yeah? They bombed several other continents as well, Hyrule is one of them. You've visited the ruins in the Wilds. Millions were killed. It shocked the entire planet. We only had so much landmass to live on and suddenly, millions of people were dead and we had less land. Less resources. Out of the four trade hubs that were bombed only Kinte survived. Rather than giving up their land, the Kintenites, lashed the islands together, making the continent the set of several landmasses you see on maps now. Kinte continued it's tradition of trade and eventually became an intergalactic hub. It was chosen to be the meeting place for the Alliance Councilmembers for symbolic as well as practical reasons. It was forged back together after the war and seemed like best place to start over, yeah? The people here are diverse and accepting. It's why the University came here and Skycorp too."
She pulled on her stockings and looked up at Illya, realizing she had been talking for sometime. "Does that help?" If he was going to get their attention he needed to know a little bit about them and she was sure some of what she said could be helpful to him.
**********
Calysta stood on the stage and looked over the crowd. There was so much noise it was hard to tell how many protestors were there, though she did see several signs and some banners hung over balcony railings in the distance. Otherwise, the street was filled with cart vendors and bright streamers wafted in the wind along with slowly falling paper confetti. There had to be thousands of people in the circle, crowding the fountain and playing games. Music echoed from every corner. There were people laughing and yelling as they rode small rides erected through the streets. It was the biggest festival she had ever seen, barring the new years festival. Multi colored lights flickered to life around them and suddenly the podium she was meant to stand on faded into view on the hologram-trons all over the city. It was time for them to speak before the festival continued.
Kayleb swept by in his traditional Kintenite robes with patterns all along the edges and smiled an encouraging smile. "Are you ready?"
Calysta looked at Kayleb and nodded.. "Illya will be introducing me once your official welcome is done."
Kayleb opened his mouth in surprise, then closed it again. "Certainly not traditional, but as you wish Councilwoman." He offered her a bow, and she returned it before Kayleb turned and stepped up to the podium.. His face appeared on the hologram-trons all over the city. "My friends and fellow Kintenites. It is my pleasure to officially welcome Councilwoman Calysta Marie Monroe to our home. We are honored to have her hear among us. Please join me in making her feel welcome and enjoy her stay on the islands. Let us show her the full force of Kinte hospitality."
She could hear cheering at his words, but also protesting as Kayleb rendered the stage and the podium to Illya.
***********
Kalizda's outfit: