Getting the lies in order.

Posted on Mon Jan 3rd, 2022 @ 10:31am by Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor]

Mission: Tales from the other side of the Mirror
Location: Terra imperial district.
Timeline: Day after Start of a new nightmare
1743 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

" Take your time my dear. They'll be yours for the rest of your life. " The lizard said to his slave as her eyes looked over the jewlrey in the store window.

He was loving the looks he was getting. A gorn out among the stores and houses of the terran ruling class. All the high born ladies and lords of the great houses stared at him and the well-dressed slave at his side. A sign that they weren't the only lifeforms in the universe.

No one had acted other than one of the one of them who had called a patrol of the urban cohort on him. Not that the boys in blue from the terran upper class with their polished weapons and well-cut uniforms would have dared lay a figure on him.

Still, he hoped that word would have gotten around enough. He glanced over his shoulder again pretending to answer the coms in his ear. He could feel the eyes of the emperor's inquisition on him. They'd been following him ever since he'd arrived on this planet.

He needed to find the other survivors from the station make sure everyone story's lined out perfectly. Else it could be the end of all of them.

Shanyi stayed close to her Master looking over the rings and bars for body modification. She had spotted a belly button ring with a small green jewel hanging from it. It matched her Master's scales to her eyes. Beside it was two D-Bars with matching jewels handing. She slowly pointed to the trio. "Like those Master?" she asked in a questioning tone.

The gorn looked down at the jewels and smiled as he ruffled his slaves head. " Indeed my girl they match your eyes. Would you like them? " Behind him another few gasps and eyes looked ta him. His grin widened.

Shanyi nodded. "Yes Master"

Scott saw the Gorn and with Sapphire had been shadowing him. They had their own slave, Phoenix's Lalor's yeoman. So when the Gorn stopped to let his slave admire some jewels, he made his move. He moved slightly behind the Gorn and placed a hand on his shoulder. "What do you think you're looking at Doc?"

Sapphire stood behind Scott, holding the leash of their slave. Compared to the Slave who stood beside the doctor, theirs was 'controlled and contained'.

Sthilg smile widened he'd found them. " Scott my friend so good to see and your lovely lady again. " He said turning and offering them an over the top warm smile. " I'm just getting my new slave some jewellery. "

"Good to see Doc. Real good. Sapphire and I are out with Giselle for a tour through the town. Glad we found you though."

Shanyi stood respectfully behind her Master and kept her eyes down. She had seen the other slave out of the corner of her eye and internally shuddered at the sight of her. Shanyi was very happy she was with her Master and not the owner of the other slave.

Sapphire nodded at the Gorn. "You look well Doc. Good to see you survived." she said as she held the leash tight and made Giselle kneel.

" It is indeed. You should come round the villia later today so we can reminisce about the time on the ship. I'm sure the high born folks around here don't want to hear all the details about the loss of one of the empires warships." Sthilg replied hoping that the two of them got the hunt that someone was looking into the loss of the Elysium.

"A visit to your villa would be nice Doc." Scott admitted, "Along with talking about old times." He leaned forward as if looking at some of the jewelry. "Read you loud and clear Doc."

" I think the green set matches her eyes don't you agree." The doc replied loudly. " Keep an eye on the tall woman talking to the urban cohort. I'm being followed." He said rather quietly as he pointed to the jewellery.

Sapphire stepped up closer looking down. "Hmmm yes" she said in normal tones then lowered her voice "Dear Doctor, of course you are followed, you stand out."

"I think this green necklace is nice." Scott to the Doc and then in a whisper when do you want us at your villa Doc?"

" Seven o'clock. " He said softly. " The optio on the gate duty is one of mine she'll let you in no trouble."

Scott clasped the Doc on his arm. "I think whatever piece of jewellery you pick out, your slave is going to be extremely fortunate and worthy of many appreciate looks." Then in a lower voice replied. "See you then." Turning to Sapphire he asked. "My love do you see anything you would like?"

"hmm no not at this time" Sapphire said. "We still have the clothing stores to look at." She inclined her head at Sthilg. "Doctor."

" I'll see you later." Sthilg said as the three of them walked away. Turning to his slave he smiled to her. " Come my dear let's get you your present."

Shanyi beamed back at him then lowered her gaze "Yes Master"

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Many hours later the gorn had a smile on his face as he saw the starters laid out on the table. " Shanyi my dear you have done wonderfully," he said to her breathing in the rich aromas.

"Thank you Master, I merely followed the instructions you gave me" Shanyi said softly.

" Well keep it up and I'll have to give you something else as a reward." the gorn said as he heard the alarm. " Ah are guest have arrived please show them in."

Shanyi bowed and moved to do so. She opened the door respectfully and showed them into the room.

Sapphire and Scott had arrived and were shown in to where Sthilg was waiting. "Doctor," Scott said looking around, "Very nice, very open. It does you credit."

" A fitting gift from our noble emperor though it will need some work." The gorn said as he laid down on the couch. " Now to business. If my hunch is correct someone from the imperial council is looking into the incident involving our ship. I need to know what you two have told them to explain our survival. If are stories match up they will have far less to use against us." the doctor explained as he helped himself to a piece of spiced chicken. It was very nice.

Sapphire handed her wrap to Shanyi who took it and scurried off. She sat on another couch and smiled. "I am all for making sure we survive Doctor. Lets be honest, we are all tainted by Taylors ineptness. His... fascination with the Other Universe's captain was... his downfall. He should have slit her throat before her crew."

"I agree Sapphire, Taylor was many things a fool most of all. We won't make that mistake." Scott replied before looking at the Doc. "Taylor's dead, so is Holmes and De la Rose as is Alicia. I don't know about Heather and Savar they seem to have disappeared though rumors say they have joined the resistance." Scott said the last in disgust.

" So two traitors whose word most likely won't be believed. What have you told them of the battle where we lost the ship and the station?" He inquired

"We put the blame squarely on Taylor" Sapphire was open about that. "He and his executive officer, they risked the empire. And they lost us our hold on the Erisian Empire. Reports are that there is a civil war happening there. Which could be good for us or bad. Depending."

" A valid move pinning it on a dead man though maybe not say that around the emperor. I told them I was asleep, that I valiantly fought my way to Taylors quarters, grabbed his son and tried to fight my way out. That the rebels hacked off my arm to take his heir and that they then left me for dead. As you can see it worked out rather well." he said holding his arms out to the villa.

Sapphire nodded. "Indeed, it is the talk of the court. As is the fact that you upset the slave market the other day." She waved a hand towards his slave who was kneeling behind his chair. "I must say she is different from your huntresses."

" She's a diamond that's for sure. Can you believe the crew only wanted one hundred and fifty credits for her? " Sthilg said as he turned and patted her on the head. " If she continues to please me she'll earn her chance of becoming a huntress."

Sapphire inclined her head. "I am sure she will be as good as your previous huntresses Doctor"

Shanyi didn't move or react to the praise, she knew better.

Scott looked at Shanyi. "She is a treasure to be sure but back to the ship. We lay the blame on Taylor and the other senior officers. They were the decision makers, we just followed orders."

The gorn nodded as he pulled out a piece of paper from his tunic. " Here.. A list of dates you came to me with worries about risks Taylor was taking. Should make any story more convincing."

Sapphire took it and smiled as she read it. "Perfect" she handed it to Scott. "It is unfortunate that we were unable to convince more of his ... imperfections. But the man had his head in the clouds."

Scott looked it over and agreed. "Looks good to me." He added. "Taylor was arrogant and he let that get him killed. We're smarter than that."

"And it is proven, as we are alive and he isn't." Sapphire said calmly.

" Then we're in agreement. A triumvirate if you will. " Sthilg replied with his signature grin.

Sapphire nodded and looked at Scott.

"Absolutely, we're just like the ancient humans of old. You know the Three Amigos." Scott told Sapphire and Sthilg,

Sthilg wanted to roll his eyes yet still held up a glass. " To victory."

Scott raised his glass, smiling at Sapphire and Sthilg, "To the sweet smell of success." He added.

The gorn smiled as he downed the drink. This could pay off for him. Not that he trusted these two snakes as...... Well, that allegory didn't work in this case, but it's meaning was solid. Yet as long as the axe of the terran emperor was hovering above them they could work together.