Calysta watched Illya dash out of the room in his boxers, looking for all the world as if he'd stuck his finger into an electrical socket. His hair stood in every direction imaginable as he performed a story for the kids. Cypher and Lohgan were old enough now to know they were just stories, but were no less entertained by the idea of their father having battle a vicious, hot-air belching beast that lived in the water pipes.
He told his story with gusto and the enthusiasm that always made her grin. She leaned in the door way of the bedroom watching him tell his tale, poofy hair moving with his every step. She giggled and watched him get the kids riled up and laughing too. There was something about watching him and hearing him laugh along with their children that seemed to clear away the worries hanging on her mind. Those cold, rainy thoughts seemed to vanish and warmth replaced them. Calysta watched in wonder at her husband and children all laughing together. When he was done, she scooted to the side as he dashed past her to go fix his own hair. Her grey eyes followed him without hesitation and she closed the door so he could get dressed. "Beast, am I?" she whispered in amusement, her eye brow arching up at him. The comment earned her a broad grin and she nudged him into the bathroom to get ready before they were late.
When everyone was ready and walking toward the door, Illya reached to her hand. His hand was large and more than a little calloused, but it was always gentle and warm too. He gave her fingers a tender squeeze. "We be jes fine eh?"
Calysta smiled up at him and squeezed his fingers back. "Aye, you and I together. We'll get through it."
This was the last night they would be on Ewen, and while it had been much improved from her last visit, she couldn't say it had been a pleasurable stay. She was ready to be back on her ship with her family close.
****************
There was a crowd outside the theatre when the arrived. Purists mixed with supporters all shouted at her arrival with Illya and the children. Some of the younger adults were openly holding hands or kissing when they passed on the walk way. That was both a show of support and a thumb at the purists who were crying out at the indecency of it.
As predicted, her hair was getting attention too. Some of the media people were snapping their hologram and asking her why she had broken tradition. She ignored the calls and the holograms, but she could always count on her daughter to have something to say.
"Because she's a Lady and she can where her hair any way she wants to," Lohgan stomped. The girls tenacity made the media men chuckle with amusement until the red headed girl was ushered along.
Calysta stepped up the circular main stairs and to the ornate front door with Illya by her side. Moryn joined them with a young man wearing color shaded glasses and a handsome silver tunic. Moryn bowed but he did not. He stayed up right and smiled, nodding slightly. "My husband, Hale," Moryn said to them both, "He'll be joining us tonight."
Despite his best attempts not to cough Illya hacked his way up the stairs to the front door. When they were joined by Moryn he couldn't help noticing the man with her. He looked strange with his glasses and Illya wondered for a moment if the guy was blind. "Nice tah meet yah." Illya gave a slight nod. he wasn't going to bow either as it was not Chippequoti custom and he was in his uniform.
Hale smiled a handsome, genuine sort of smile and offered out his hand toward the councilwoman. "It's a pleasure to meet you in person Councilwoman Monroe and you as well, General Blackwolf. Hale Haruyn." Calysta took the man's hand and shook it, recognizing the greeting as a more traditionally Terran move. He tilted his head, causing one of his dark curls to fall near his temple, but he didn't seem to notice. Then he offered his hand to Illya. "Moryn has spoken highly of you, Sir."
"Hale teaches advanced mathematics at the University of Kinte," Moryn beamed, clearly proud of her husband.
The man seemed to be a bit strange in his mannerisms and he offered to shake their hands. Illya watched his hand and almost slapped it away when he extended it toward Kalizda, but there wasn't anything wrong that he could see. When the man offered his hand to Illya he took it and shook Hale's hand. At the mention of math Ilya's eyes brightened. "Oh, yah teach meh favorite school."
Hale shook Illya's hand with a firm, but friendly grip and nodded. "Is that so? It's not often a hear mathematics as a favorite." He nudged toward his wife, with his elbow, but didn't look at her. "Moryn much prefers I talk about Shakespeare and...ah..what's the name of that Rey poet? Dyruk. That's it. I've been teaching for a couple of years, but I tend to like theoretical maths and statistics more, depending on the subject."
Illya sighed. “Well, I dun plan on talking about dose tings. Nut really sure what Dey are. Yah have any interesting problems lately en mat?”
It was unclear whether the General didn't know what Shakespeare and Dyruk were or what theoretical math and statistics were. Hale didn't mind though. Instead, he grinned and started digging in his pocket for his pad. When he pulled it out, it was clear his pad looked different from the rest. There was a soft, smooth square at the bottom and when he touched it, strange bumps rose up. He ran his fingers across the bumps and pressed them inward, unlocking the pad. "Find Harmonics Test Theory One," he told it. The pad obeyed and displayed a set of equations. "Absolutely. I've been working on Harmonics and applying them to space flight travel possibilities. Here's what I've done so far, but it's a long way from perfect since Harmonics don't work in the same way we normally calculate any of our navigation today, though if I could figure out the formula it would be more accurate."
Moryn chuckled and shook her head, "Maybe you two can talk more math at the reception?"
The buttons rose up on the pad and Illya made mental note that the man was likely blind, but at least he seemed to understand math. "Mmm..." Illya leaned in closer and he forgot that they were supposed to be going into the theater. "Send dis problem to meh. Some parts look similar tah problems I work on before. Maybe I help yah wit formula. Dah more difficult dah problem dah more enjoyable eh?"
That comment earned him a delighted smile from the man and he tilted his head, tipping it in approval. "Aye," he said, "The more difficult, the more I enjoy the challenge. I'll send it over."
His fingers brushed over the bumps on his pad again and he spoke once more. "Attach Harmonic's Test Theory One," then he turned the pad around offering the holographic side to Illya. "You can put in your device info. Its easier if you put it instead of me. And don't worry. I'm blind as a bat, so I won't see any codes if you have to use them."
Moryn rolled her eyes slightly, but there was more amusement in her voice than anything. "He thinks he's funny."
Hale grinned. "I think you're the one with the humor, my love. You're the one who invited the blind man to the water dancing show."
Moryn shot him a look, again with only false annoyance as Hale chuckled, knowing he'd gotten her.
As Illya suspected the man was indeed blind and he handed his pad over to Illya. It took a moment for Illya to decide he didn't understand most of the letters on the pad, but he could put in his number. "I put en meh pad number for yah message, but I dun know rest of et." Once the number was added he pushed the send button and then waited for his pad to ding.
Then the awkward subject of the water dancing came up and Illya cleared his throat. "Well, I tink a drink and some mat would be most welcome after dah show."
Hale nodded in approval at that plan as he put away his pad and then reached for a small, rod around his wrist which extended into a whip like cane. "I look forward to it." He gestured toward the door. "Shall we?"
Calysta smiled and took up Illya's arm, looping it in her own.
Behind her, she could hear both cheering and jeering for the move. People were commenting on her breaks from tradition all the way from her braided hair to her hand on Illya in public. "Ready?" She asked him.
Now that they were headed into the theater Illya decide to roll his shoulders and take a deep breath. As he let his hand down he felt Kalizda's hand slip past his and then her fingers weaved their way underneath and then rested on top of his arm. Glancing down at her, he smiled. "Aye, I guess dat I'm ready." Because there was already such a ruckus over her just linking arms he leaned over gently and kissed the top of her head.
Calysta closed her eyes and enjoyed the touch of Illya's lips on the crown of her head. It made her feel safe even with all the cheering and slurs being thrown at her back. When she opened her eyes, she smiled up at him and stayed in his arm as they walked inside.
The water dancing theatre was a large colosseum style building. The outside was stone hewn from large black rocks and created, again by the Rey's when they had owned Ewen as part of their empire. However, the inside was completely retro-fitted with all the modern conveniences and seating. The seating started with tiered stadium seating on the ground floor, surrounding a giant above ground, glass walled pool. A stage surrounded the pool, separating it from the first row of seating. A second floor hung over the first and provided the same kind of seating as the first floor with a better view. The third floor was comprised of private box suites with viewing areas open to the rest of the theater as well as an area of tinted windows for privacy. Stage lights and all manner of equipment hung from the ceiling far above the water along with cat walks and diving equipment.
Calysta settled into the open area of their private box. Illya folded into one of the larger, plush seats next to her and the kids flanked her on the other side. Moryn had also joined them along with her husband. He sat down beside his wife and put a hand over hers, a daring move in public for an Ewenian. Moryn grinned and leaned over kissing his cheek. "I'll be right back. One last trip to the powder room before the show." The man nodded and let her hand go as she made her way out of the aisle.
The theatre was packed with councilmembers and the regular citizens of Ewen all dressed in their finest. Women wore their hair piled in buns on their heads and with pearl beads dangling from their dark curls while the men wore flat topped hats and tight, silken tunics. Looking out across the quickly filling theatre, she saw her grandparents with several other purist councilmembers seated in a private box almost exactly opposite of theirs. "I don't know whether to be glad they are so far away or annoyed that I can see them if I look across the theatre," she mumbled under her breath. There was enough noise she was sure no one had heard her, but it was Hale who leaned over, a small smirk on his face.
"Look on the bright side, if they are so easy to see, maybe you'll get to see one of them choke on their own bullshit at some point," he said in a cheery whisper.
Calysta's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open a little. "Hale," she breathed, because it was the only word she could get out between the shock of the statement. It was entirely against protocol and he'd said it earnestly.
"I've watched Moryn tear herself to bits over towing the protocol line, but I'm only a quarter Ewenian. I'll keep some of my heathen ways," he said with a bit of sarcasm and a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Calysta snorted a little and they let the joke pass between them, one half breed to another. She had known Hale was a mix himself. His father had been half Ewenian and half Rey, an abominable combination. His father married a young woman who was a half breed Kinte and Terran. She had lived to the ripe age of 19 and he had been conceived using a surrogate. The genetic problems, while not as strong, persisted with even just a hint of Terran blood and he had been born blind. He lacked the proper nerves in his brain to even have digital, false eyes crafted and attached. Hale would be blind till the day he died.
Moryn returned and the crowd, while loud, had largely settled into their seats as well. The house lights flashed twice in slow succession and then began to slowly dim, signaling that the show would begin soon. Rose and Lohgan had been so excited to see real water dancing after going to the museum. Calysta could understand that excitement. She had always wanted to be in this very theatre to see the beautiful water dancers doing a traditional display. With Illya with her, she could relax just a little bit enough to feel some of the anticipation.
Calysta slid her hand over to Illya's and put her small fingers over his large, brown ones. In response, his hand turned and captured hers in a gentle hold that she fully intended on keeping through the performance.
Eventually, the lights dimmed entirely and the show began in earnest. There was no announcement, no emcee to call out the start of the show. Instead, a hidden but very much live orchestra hidden in the pit in front of the stage began to play. It was a slow, beautiful string instrument at first. The song had a longing tone to it. A needful sound. The murmuring from the crowd died away after the first few notes and then more instruments joined in, slowly building until the first of the water dancers appeared with the crescendo of choir voices. They walked in cadence with the music across the stage and mist began to pour in from above. Their long legs stretched out to a point and then propelled them forward gracefully as the stage began to collect water. Then the dance began in earnest.
Divers plummeted from the catwalks and into the water as the stage dancers performed, their moves jerking and sharp, then sweeping in graceful to match the music. The dancers in the water began to compliment the dancers outside of the pool. They all hit certain marks together, making a beautiful, grand display that was expertly coordinated. When the music picked up more momentum, a soloist appeared. She was blind folded and joined the stage with the same stylized steps, her toes pointed outward and knee straight to push her forward with each purposeful step.
She stumbled some, but it was clearly meant to be part of the dance, and the water splashed around her as she fell. Her hands reached out toward the audience, and up toward where the simulated thunderstorm was raging overhead. Then a male dancer joined the stage and removed her blind fold. The dance became a sensual duet, though she was wearing leggings and he was wearing tight pants to keep modesty between a male and female dancer.
The tone of the music shifted, and suddenly the man artfully cast the woman aside and covered her eyes again, leaving her lost on the stage. She reached for the other dancers, but they were all just out of reach until her fingers brushed across a silk harness that had been lowered from the rafters. Her fingers reached out and grabbed the silk like it was a lifeline. She was lifted into the air on a crescendo of music and began beautiful, fast, and potentially deadly spins within the silk as it was lifted over 40ft into the air.
The entire time, the water in the pool had dancers in short, ghostly white dresses swirling around her with lights to matched the mood of the music cast all around them.
Just as the show reached its peak, the lights became strange and rather than being simple lights, images began to appear. The music from the orchestra pit cut out abruptly and there was the sound of someone speaking over the speakers. It was clearly a recorded voice. There was an image of a pathetic looking flower, drooping a sickly projected as a hologram into the middle of the water. The flower lost petals and as it did, it showed images of her from weeks before during the tour.
"Tonight we are joined by Councilwoman Calysta Monroe," said a booming voice.
The dancers stopped in their tracks and looked around in confusion before realizing there was imagery being displayed behind them.
This was not part of their show.
The crowd began to murmur in as much confusion as the dancers until the booming voice continued speaking. "A hero..."
An image of her standing out side the hospital on Kinte faded to her bloodied and bedraggled as she helped to load hurt Terrans from the assassination attempt into a truck.
"Or so she would have us think. But every weed, has deep roots and the Councilwoman is no exception."
Images of words flashed.
Grand theft, larceny, escape, blackmail, murder, treason,
"She has kept many secrets and crimes. She did as she pleased in Skycorp, the company pet favorite..."
An image of her standing next to Swyft with her diploma was displayed.
"She brought us into war with her actions, costing money and lives...Her appointment was the result of a woman's wish to keep power in the family."
A picture of Henaiah at her wedding to Thomas Monroe flickered to the screen.
"And now she threatens to change our way of life with laws condoning the mixing of blood. You trust the public face, but the roots of her lies and attempts to grasp power run so deep, they went so low as to marry an outsider for political gain and blackmail two of the longest standing members of the Ewenian council."
That earned gasps from the crowd and now people were turning in their seats, trying to find out which booth she was in.
"So how well do you know, Calysta Marie Monroe, really? Enough to let her lead Ewen and the home planet? I don't think so."
A last image appeared. It was a hologram of her. A mug shot. Her hair was askew and she had a bruise on her chin. Her eyes were angry, almost violent as she held up the top of a placard with her name. It was from when she had been arrested for fighting so many years go on Ewen. The only mug-shot she'd ever taken.
Beside her Moryn had gone ghostly white and her mouth was hanging open like a fish in utter shock while Hale was trying to get her talk about what she was seeing, since he couldn't see it. The image of her arrested and wild looking stayed over the water.
Calysta shook. She couldn't stop shaking. Every fiber of her being vibrated.
She remembered that night clearly. It had. Even terrifying and it was the last thing she would ever want Illya or her children to see.
Emotions uncontrolled and potent welled up. Fear, sadness. Shame. An old anger flared too. Across the way, she could see her grandparents sitting in their booth with the other purists. They were the only ones who didn't look the least bit surprised and were watching her in return. Everyone had seen this. Everyone in the room at least. Her
children had seen this. Already Lohgan was yelling and the twins were starting to sniffle. They had crossed a line. They could come for her. But she wouldn't stand for them exposing her children to their attacks on her or bringing Illya into the fray.
Finally Moryn managed to grab her pad and start barking. "Kill the feed!"
Calysta thrust out a hand toward Moryn capturing hers. "No. Leave it up there." The command was deadly calm and she didn't look down at the woman. She couldn't pull her eyes away from her own face as red hot anger turned her cheeks pink.
Moryn's eyes grew wider still and she sputtered out. "C-cancel that. Leave it up."
Calysta could feel the rage building up as a spot light landed on their booth finally, blocking her view of her grand parents. She winced a little until the spot light faded some, leaving floating colors in her eyes. "Illya," she breathed, her voice low and wavering only a little, "Can you get me to the stage? I have some things to say and I want everyone to see me."
