The sun streamed in brightly through the curtains in the lavishly it was a lovely day for everyone in the Araluen estate estate on Cambridge everyone except the figure who lay upon the grand bed in the lavish room curled up like a ball tears ebbed down her porcelain white features her blonde hair streamed upon the bed covers as she sobbed deeply into her pillow. A letter with the seal of the armed forces lay lost upon the wood floor its sad message struck deep in the heart of the young lady.
********** Letter********
To her Lady Lafiel Tarrant Countess of Araluen Daughter of his Lordship Sebastian Tarrant the Marquis of Araluen. It is with sad news that I must report your father Declared missing in action as of 12th of August Leeds Calender at 0800 hours. Our Search for your father must come to a close as it has been over six weeks since his dissapearence and our resoruces must be diverted to other operations. Your father was last seen on the frontlines on a patrol mission it is with great sadness that we must presume him dead and a casualty of war.
You have our sincere condolences, know that our hearts and best wishes are with you in your time of loss
Signed
The Office of the Admiralty.
********End of Letter******
Lafiel had managed to hold back her tears when the admiral had arrived in the entrance hall to the manor. His name she had long forgotten as she had seen him last when she was a small child at one of her fathers dinner parties he had been a kind old man acting like a hearty old grandfather dancing with her at the time much to her enjoyment. Upon seeing him she knew his purpose he was in full uniform an as she was aware of the tradition of admirals deliver such letters to members of the nobility it gave her no comfort or preparation when he had given her the letter an tried to comfort her. The old Admiral had made her sit down before he broke the news. After he had left days had passed like water in a stream their butler Oliver Draske had done his best to comfort an console her but it had been days since she had left her room.
Lafiel was about to celebrate her birthday upon the 25th but there was no cheer in the heart of the soon to be eighteen year old. Her pale alibaster skin reflected the sun as she lay with her knees drawn into her chest. There was a quiet knock on the door.
"My Lady." a gentle masculine voice flowed to her ears but she made no motion or showed any sign of hearing it. The wooden door creaked an she heard careful footsteps as the aging butler entered his black hair had strong silvery grey streaks in it. He had been part of the household for many years to her tutoring entertaining her since she was a little baby this was Evident when the oldman sat upon the side of her bed an he gently stroked the side of her cheek an untangling her brilliant long blonde hair till it flowed like the tail of a comet along her bed. His voice continued carefully, "My lady you must eat something. It saddens this old heart to see you waste away in this room. Your father would hate to see his beautiful daughter torture herself so." She uncoiled herself an wrapped herself around the old man in a hug he awkwardly returned the hug placing an arm around her shoulders as fresh tears fell down her eyes she spoke softly, "He's gone Oliver. He's gone first Mama was killed, then brother goes off with that vile Kusari lady and now they take father too. I feel so alone my family is dead. It hurts so much" She suddenly screamed why why why did this happen she broke down into sobs she let go an gestured for the old butler to leave as he went he pulled the door quietly closed an she laid back upon the pillows and cried her heart deeply into them.
Lafiel had managed to sneak into her fathers study as she had done on so many occasions when she was little. Her father would scold her for such silly behaviour telling her countless times that his study was not a play area but then scooping her up onto his lap as he sat in his high backed chair behind his desk filled with papers an usually said while your here you might as well learn something. Her strongest memory was when he had the map of the sirius sector in front of him he had pointed out various things giving the history of the four major houses and various places if she were to every travel she shouldn't go he didn't acknowledge Gallia as a house just yet he had called them an unknown element. His eyes had been sad as he had remarked pointing to tau sectors that war had been potential brewing on our doorsteps an if such an event broke out she should temporarily remove herself to Liberty if possible as far away as Rheinland the evident corruption would allow for anyone that wanted to hide to hide safely an if worse had come to worse she was to ask for Asylum in either of the neighboring houses. Should anything happen to me you will be a good girl won't you Lafie if need be you can just go into hiding till your older "Yes father I will do anything you say." she had only been 12 but she looked to her father with great love an admiration her mother had passed away when she was younger he was all she had apart from her brother. "Oliver will acompany you."
She drifted out of her reminice as she sat in her fathers desk chair she was surprised she was not alone anymore as her eyes rose from the desk. The old butler with his silver streaks an neatly clean shaven chin detached himself from the corner of a bookshelf. "My lady we must depart you are to receive your new title before the queen in ceremony." Lafiel just leaned further back into her fathers chair an shook her head. Olivers face became stern an authoritarion like when ever she had misbehaved as a child "You are just going to have to act your age an stop this childish behaviour. The Queen has summoned you an you must go as any citizen Lord or lady must." Lafiel looked pained but glared back at him her green eyes piercing an sharp as she replied, "Its not right Oliver an you know it. He is not dead he is missing in action. It is true I am the first born which makes it true that I already have this title there is no need for the queen to officially hand my fathers land an territory over to me." Oliver frowned at her stubborness, "My Lady whether it is right or wrong is not the question your queen has summoned you an you will go. If your father may or may not return his lands can be just as easily returned to him or who knows what the queen would do upon his return there might be new lands an territory bestowed upon him he still holds his title you are not taking anything from him." Lafiel seemed to think this over but just sat still the Butler came over an grabbed hold of her shoulder an arm gently but firmly dragged her to a standing position. She began to fight against the old man but he was surprisingly strong for someone who must have been at least eighty years old. "Let go of me Oliver. Your hurting me." Oliver looked sad now but didn't let go he frog marched her all the way to the transport only letting go of her once they were in the air. Two squadrons of the armed forces took up formation around the transport while a third escorted them as far as the the jump gate to New London.
It was a long seven days but Lafiel was on her utmost best behaviour and followed the ceremony an gave homage to Queen Carina an the lands an territory officially worthy of her title was bestowed upon her. It was only in private she wheeped as one of her strongest ties with her father was lost.
Lady Lafiel Countess of Araluen estate of Cambridge,
Had Learnt fast many of her fathers affairs an duties as an Marquis especially the more harder tasks of ruling in the name of the Queen though there was many minor Barons an Lords that did not yet fully acknowledge her orders to them. Though they were not quite game enough to try countering her commands and they did heed her on important matters. They were greatly encouraged to co operate once the Kusari had reached Leeds they decided it was in their best interest. Eventually they gave her the respect that was due her though they still didn't hesitate to point out their seniority an age an her lack of. That was when the games of we are older you should heed our advice started but Lafiel was sharp an intelligent although she was still studying an learning she was wise enough to see what was occuring an what was not neccesarily in the best interests of the Queen or Cambridge.
It became apparent to her that at some stage she would have to take part in active service in either the armed forces or as a diplomatic offical as such positions were generally held to nobility.
it was not till a month later when a transmission came through on a certain private channel that would shock her to the very core an pull deeply at her heart.
She was sitting in her fathers office looking out upon the countryside through the big tall windows her PDA left neglected but on as she watched storm clouds forming on the horizon. Her PDA Blipped once then twice then continued Lafiel turned in the High back chair to examine her PDA the clear words of Incoming Transmission Unknown channel. She pressed a button that would accept the transmission were a face would normally have appeared there was white crackling snow a barely distinguishable voice echoed the PDA. "Lafiel alter your frequency to 199459039000 and set your PDA to intersystem roam." Lafiel didn't quite get all of it but knelt her head closer to the PDA careful to keep her hair from muffling the voice as it repeated itself. Once she had done it she did as she was instructed. The haggard barely kept familiar face appeared creening down from a long way it was only when the familiar person spoke did her heart begin to pound in her chest like a sudden burst of adrenaline her face froze but a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Sebastian Tarrant crouched over the small communications device that would bounce his transmission through many systems till it reached its destination the source untraceable.
He pressed buttons on the crude device his benefactors had provided him dialing through an encrypted frequency and inputing the destination device.
It whirred an clicked making various noises but eventually he heard the noise confirming connection had been established. He noticed the screen was fuzy with grey mist so he spoke as clear an loud he could, "Lafiel alter your frequency to 199459039000 and set your PDA to intersystem roam."
"Lafiel can you here me I need you to alter your communication frequency to 199459039000 and set your PDA to intersystem roam." He paused an repeated himself one last time the grey tornado gave way to a familiar young ladies face which turned from curiosity to frozen shock. He spoke warmly, "Hello my daughter." her green eyes stared lost an absently at him through the screen he noticed a barely perceivable blurry mark that rolled down her cheek. He already knew what must be going through his daughters mind as sources had told him he had been declared missing in action an presumed dead.
"My apologies for not contacting you sooner I have missed you dearly." Tarrants face had turned sad an thoughtful but it quickly became impassive. that was when the second tear fell an the torrent of streaming words began.
Lafiel was unaware that tears had began to fall from her eyes when she stammered her words, "F..F.Father they said... they claimed.... you had died. Were are you." her words flooded out of her now in streams of emotion "What happened, are you well your face looks so gaunt, who has done this to you, they wouldn't let me believe or hope you were alive an an they made the transferance of lands an territory to me they wouldnt let me wait I tried to stall them but but Oliver frogged marched me. Oh father Im so lost when are coming home."
The words faltered as tears over powered her, while her mind continued to race.
Tarrant winced unoticebly it hurt him dearly to see his daughter in such a way but he didn't have long he spoke with gentle but firm fatherly authority, "Shh my dear dear daughter its alright Lafie I'm alive an in generally better health than I have been in months. But you must listen carefully I don't have long an can't afford for this communication to be traced." tarrant looked at the old communication device an noticed the counter that had once stood at 10 minutes fallen to 5 minutes. His face was grim but he continued his voice speaking hastily giving instructions, "Arrangements have been made you will be leaving home. I'm unsure for how long but you must for your safety depart. arrangements have been made you are to leave on the medical transport the trexus with refugess from leeds. You must adopt Araluen as your last name please wear very little that will make you stand out if you must dress lavishly do it only on the transport as the people on there are friends or people that are not spies at the very least. You are to remain on the ship once it reaches liberty space it will ferry you to Rheinland in disguise of a cargo vessel ferrying goods. You should be able to safely hide in its corrupt space with out to much hassle most people can be bought off but be weary of Rheinlander agents they are less than co operative an more than likely to detain you for bribing an officer. If trouble should arise you are a cargo vessel from Bretonia an are to assume the action of being its captain. This frequency will be unable to be reestablshed so I can not say how long we will be out of contact once I am returned an established that im alive an rejoin up with the armed forces I will get into contact again."
Lafiel's mouth dropped open her eyes widened as her tears staunched by the sudden command, "No father I can't I won't go Im not leaving home. I want to stay here its safe here what about everyone I know here. I don't want to go you can't make me I don't want to go to LIBERTY or or or RHEINLAND! How can I be safe in a corrupt place an an corrupt people don't do very nice things to girls. You know I hate flying don't make me do this." Her lips formed into a deep pout.
Tarrants face hardened ever so slightly which emphasised the stretch of his gaunt features he voice was kind but it left the words as final, "My Daughter it is not safe for you. You will do as I say the Kusari could be at the doors of Cambridge an if the system becomes a frontline of the battlefield I will not have my daughter in such a place. I know you hate flying but you will get used to it arrangements have been made an your leaving tonight. There will be no argument your just going to have to be strong alright I know it is going to be very hard for you but trust me this is for the best."
Tarrant saw the number on the screen tick to one the screen began to get hazy he quickly conveyed his last few words, "You won't be alone, I'm sorry but an ion storm is about to cut the communication short I must go. I love you my dearest darling daughter never forget that I miss you so much things will be set right once more don't worry you will be home sooner than you think. Good by my dear"
Lafiel made a little noise before she gasped as the last words hit her, "No No No Father please don't go Please don't I miss you so much. I love you to. Noo." The screen to her PDA went dark as a white writing on a blue background appeared Transmission lost.
Sadness filled her eyes but she resolved herself she would do as her fathers said how ever much she wanted to stay here. She would be brave for him. It would be like a long diplomatic mission yes think of it like that. Her hands shooked she picked up her PDA an left the study entering her fathers libary she hurried to her room but she was stopped in the hallway as she found Oliver with four large suit cases hovering near him. Her heart broke no she couldn't do it a glint flickered through her eyes as she went to hurry passed him. An iron hand grabbed hold of her shoulder spinning her around Oliver shook his head at her an gestured with his other arm down the hall. Suddenly she slogged him hitting him square on the nose there was a soft crink which surprised them both Lafiel didn't think she could do it an Oliver hadn't expected it he was stunned his hand momentarily slipped from her shoulder that was enough she bolted in direction of her room but Oliver for an old man moved lightning quick he had her arms pinned in a bear like vice with one arm an gently lifted her off the ground as he towered over her. Lafiel screamed, "Get off of me you can't make me. I won't go I won't let you take me." Her delicate alibaster hands had balled into fists now an persisted to pound on the butlers arm but it was like hitting a stone statue for all he noticed an it started to hurt. Especially the hand that had hit his nose. She let out a shriek as she was lugged along the hallway. like a small bag of sugar. She yelled at him, "Unhand me you can't treat me like this. I'm nobility if anyone found out you would be shot. Hell I will have you shot if you don't let me go an leave me alone." Oliver gently placed a hand of her mouth an spoke, "Calm yourself little one. I'm not hurting you and you know by far that I'm not kidnapping you. Your fathers orders were explicit an I will see them fulfilled an your safety. The easy way is if you didn't struggle however if you persist we can do it the hard way I will drag you kicking an screaming to the transport at worst I will give you a minor sedative but I don't think it will come to that." His voice was firm the authority in it was clear, "Will it countess." Her only response was to sink her teeth into the hand that was covering her mouth. The butler didn't wince or for that matter show any sign of pain his face was impassive as blood gently trickled from the wound on his hand. It remained firmly clamped over her mouth. He whispered in her ear, "My lady I'm not just your butler I'm ex armed forces an I am an operative in the service of her majesty but more recently been tasked under the service of your father but you more readily know me as Oliver Draske your butler and chamberlain. I have been charged with your safety My Lady but have been given the authority to use what ever means neccesary to achieve this goal." Lafiel's eyes went wide with shock her body went limp in his grasp as what he had just disclosed set in. Regardless of this fact he carried her the hovering cases of things following them as they went they arrived at the landing pad were a shuttle awaited at the entrance to the shuttle uniformed guards stood at attention. Oliver spoke with command, "Lady Lafiel is taken ill an weary if you would be so kind to take her to her seat while I make final preparations a bulky guard scooped up Lafiel her glared violently back at Oliver as the guard carried her to a seat on the shuttle. Once everything was ready Oliver had taken a seat opposite her.
As soon as the engines had kicked in an they were rising Lafiel started to get anxious she felt a little light headed as she realised she was now officially trapped. She closed her eyes as she thought to herself I want this over I want this over please don't crash please don't crash. The shuttle docked in the shuttle bay of the transport an she felt much better once she felt artificial gravity under her feat. She resolved herself once more that this was the only course of action left to her now that she had been abducted by an agent of the secret service.
Lafiel had arrived upon the medical transport ship The Trexus unwilling at first but seeing as she had no other alternative to comply with the wishes of her father and the people whom he had arranged for her protection. She knew it would be hopeless to resist especially now since her butler to her shock had suddenly become an undercover agent which she had no chance of escaping she had began to doubt that he was even an old man at all the way he had out run her the way he had picked her up as if she weighed nothing the way he was so strong.
She sat glumly in her room it was the biggest quarters on the ship the captain Foster had given her his. She wondered just how many people were in on this this. What was this thing anyway she thought to herself protection of a member of the nobility no protectors wouldn't kidnap you restrain you in a shuttle an force you onto a transport. Yes they were more like kidnappers yet she wasn't a kid was she or at least not by standards of many of the places in Sirius were kids became adults at the age of 16 some at 18 or even 21.
*she sighed morosely* an gazed out of her room she wasnt inclined to mingle with the crew yet she had been given the authority of then captain an then somemore not that it really felt like authority more like a facade. The captain still held all the authority she wondered grimly if this was how queen carina felt more like a figure head that danced for others. She touched walked over to the window an touched her hand to it as she saw Cambridge getting smaller an smaller. She began to feel nervous again she hoped the angst of travleing through space didn't get the better of her she couldn't afford to be distracted anything could happen.