Rigel

[Rhaine]

The poison Gabriel has shown her, that was something damn serious. If the bodyguard bothered to ask her, probably it was Azjah threatened. Rhaine paced back and forth in her lab, her face touched by a shade of fury. The author of toxin was excellent... equal to best graduates of Planetary University of Mentar. Having such a one as an enemy - that would have been a danger to any human... Rhaine frowned. It was Palazzo where Raevyx rested and recovered. It was Azjah who brought him to this safe place, into shelter and cover.

It was time to repay this debt. As former Bishop of Temple of Asmodeus, Rhaine considered it her duty. When the new Temple is finished, the trio should have no past debts.

And Rhaine left, cloaked in darkness of robes, to knock at the doors of Palazzo

[Kendrick Albrecht]

Kendrick looked at the rundown warehouse with a grin. It had been years since he had done this kind of thing and he was quickly remembering why he prefered it to all the political machinations that he'd been involved in. Here at least he could be honest with his violence. "All teams move out." He spoke into his transmitter clearly. Ten years of planning were coming down to tonight and he'd even managed a few added bonuses.

He followed his troops out of the transport as the moved efficiently towards the warehouse. All across Rigel troops of houses loyal to the Prince were assaulting similar targets. The entire criminal empire of 'Mr. Silent' was coming down tonight. The front door exploded inwards and the team entered two by two clearing rooms as they went. A voice sounded in his ear, "Wolf One this is Wolf Three, we have found where the prisoner is being held."

"Roger, hold positions we're on our way." Kendrick motioned the team commander to take the lead and they headed further into the decrepit building. The door was one of the few things in the building that looked well maintained and the lock was clearly newly installed. "Blow it." Kendrick commanded as he took up his position next to the doorway. The lock exploded in a flash of molten metal and a second later the soldiers had kicked in the door and entered. Kendrick followed them in. The only occupant of the room was strapped to a table in the center of the room with equipment setup all around him. Kendrick stepped over to him and checked his vital signs.

Two of the soldiers guarded what was left of the door as the commander helped Kendrick strip the prisoner and outfit him in a combat suit, "Get a medic in here." He yelled as they finished and cracked a tube of smelling salts under the man's nose. The man awoke with start. "Morning Caleb," Kendrick said quietly, "I'm getting you out of here. For right now you're one of my soldiers whose was captured while doing recon for this op. Play along. They'll get you to the hospital and you can take care of escaping from there. Any questions?"

"Why?" croaked Caleb.

"Because she loves you, you idiot." Kendrick said quietly before stepping back as the medics arrived.

He watched as the medics took Caleb out. They would have him in one of Kendrick's hospitals in less than an hour. He would be gone five minutes later. The reports were coming in from the rest of the teams. Minimal casualties with hundreds of arrests and billions of gold in contraband seized. It had gone without a hitch, something that scare Kendrick more than a little but he finally dismissed it. Even Murphy took a day off from time to time. Hopefully it would last, his plans were just getting started.

[Kendrick Albrecht]

Kendrick sealed the last document and handed them to his aide. "These are to be delivered to the Triberg House within half an hour of the completion of tonight's ceremony." He handed the aide a second package, "This is to be delivered to the Prince directly afterwards along with this to the Central News Agency. That'll be all. I need to prepare for the ceremony."

"Yes milord." The aide bowed and left Kendrick alone. Kendrick quickly shrugged into his dress uniform. He checked himself in the mirror and then placed his palm on the center of the mirror allowing the hidden sensors to read his fingerprints and DNA before it slid open silently. His implants slid open the tip of his right pointer finger and he pulled out the fluid injector he wanted. The skin of his fingers closed over the injector sealing it inside until he would need it. He placed the rest of the injectors into the incinerator and watched them burn.

Kendrick sat down behind his desk. He pulled out the data cube that he had downloaded his private files onto and typed in the key code to activate a program that would scramble the files on his computer. He waited until it was complete then activated the thermite flares inside the computer core melting the hardware. That was the last of it. Outside of himself there was no trail that would show what he had done or was about to do. It was time to go.

The ceremony proceeded with all of the pomp and circumstance that Kendrick had learned to despise over thirty-four years of life. The Kaiser was talking and talking. This entire event had been set up ostentatiously to allow the Kaiser to congratulate the Prince and the Earl on their destruction of the pervasive crime network of the infamous Mr. Silent. It was even rumored that the crimelord was killed in the world spanning raids but that had yet to be verified. Kendrick toned out the Kaiser's words, they were always the same, and never what the Kaiser really meant. He simply wished to get his share of the good press that the Prince was enjoying.

The Kaiser called him forward. He was to be awarded a medal for services to the crown. The old fool didn't realize how right he was. The Kaiser pinned the medal to his chest and smiled at him as he held out his hand to congratulate Kendrick. Time slowed. Kendrick reached out and after an eternity their hands clasped and Kendrick felt the injector release shooting the poison into his enemy. He stared into the old man's eyes and in a moment of madness pulled the Kaiser towards him hugging him with one arm. The watching crowd cheered the obvious affection the Kaiser and the Earl had for each other. He knew that by now the Kaiser would be feeling the effects, his jaw would have locked and he would be unable to control his muscles they would be sluggish and tensed. Kendrick whispered to the Kaiser knowing that his words would be the last things the monarch heard, "Tell my father I sent you when you see him in hell."

Kendrick stepped back, his eyes caught the Kaiser's which were now filled with terror but the insipid smile he had been wearing was stuck on his face. Every muscle throughout the Kaiser's body stiffened holding their last positon, every muscle including his heart. Kendrick turned to the podium and shouted the preprogrammed code words into the microphone, "The Kaiser is dead, Long live the Kaiser." With a bang, the main switchboard and the back-up generator exploded from bombs placed months before and every light in the building went dark. Kendrick leaped off the stage knocking over several guards who were rushing the stage to protect the Kaiser. He was already dead but they didn't know that. He relieved one of them of their sidearm and ran for the side exit. His augmented eyes had already adjusted to the lack of illumination and it took only moments to incapacitate the guard and slip out the door to freedom.

Two hours later found Kendrick sitting behind the controls of his new starship, the "Devil's Dream". The defense net codes got him off the ground and on his way headed out of the system without incident. Murphy had barely made an appearance, but then again maybe tonight he was Murphy. That was not a settling thought. He plotted a course for RhyDin. He needed a new path, perhaps he could find one there.

The morning after the Kaiser's death the news was filled with excited newscasters. The now infamous Kendrick Albrecht had abdicated his title and holdings in favor of (according to rumor) a commoner child belonging to a pirate woman that he had been seen spending time with. He had also released evidence and a full confession saying that he had been responsible for all of the killings that had rocked the capital in the last month though he had continued to firmly deny being responsible for the attempt on the Lord Caer. In fact, the new lord had been named regent of the former Earl's estates until the child came of age. The manhunt for Caleb Feren had been called off, though certain members of the Kaiser's Guard felt that he should be arrested for resisting arrest, the news agencies had been provided with undeniable proof of evidence tampering and bribery that showed Caleb to simply be the former Earl's hapless dupe. In one day Kendrick Albrecht had gone from being the hero of the hour and a respected peer of the realm to becoming public enemy number one. Kendrick watched the excitement and decided he wouldn't have it any other way.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

The shocking news of the assassination of the Kaiser spread throughout Rigel faster than a laser pulse. My computer had shrieked with the critical announcement moments before, and I sat before the screen in complete disbelief.

The killer had the audacity to do so in full public view at a State affair honoring him!

Kendrick Albrecht, 19th Earl of Tuebingen had publicly poisoned the Kaiser, and miraculously managed an escape! He was now a hunted man, and for the remainder of his life, he would be wanted for the murder of an Emperor. He wouldn't be easy to track, but someone, somewhere would turn him in for a bounty, or spite. He was truly doomed to a short life.

I had always known my parents deaths were not accidental, and had even come to believe it was Kendrick who'd killed them, but now, the whole world knows Kendrick for the murdering bast*rd he is.

I sat in shocked silence as the new girl knocked on the library door. She brought me an envelope, "Pardon Lady, this was found beneath your pillow this morning." She handed me a sealed envelope before bobbing a curtsey and leaving.

Lucien faded into the visible spectrum, extending his hand for the envelope. I waited as he opened it, searching for traces of more poison. He found none. "It is from Mr. Feren." He returned the paper to me and faded once more from the normal visible view.

I thanked him as he returned to lean against the fire place behind me and began to read Caleb's note.

[Anne]

I bid the doctor good-bye and then sat back down on my seat. I had come back to the Triberg house after my ride with Kendrick. It had been long and filled with confessions of sorts. Duty and honor. That's what it had been. Duty and honor. Both he and I had been compelled to murder. I had been compelled to murder Eliza, Black, the Baron and Viscount. He had been compelled to murder Mr and Mrs. Drachen Walde. Soon after arriving at home a specialist in optics came to visit me. He had orders from the Earl to begin helping me restore my eyesight as soon as I was ready. They had a way to help the body restore itself. I was overwhelmed inside but I sent the doctor away. I would inform him when I was ready.

Not an hour later Kendrick called me. He had found Caleb. He was alive. He was at the hospital. I nearly fell down the stairs as I hurried out the door. Not bothering to tell Azjah or Klinton or anyone where I was going I found a taxi and told them where to go. Upon arriving at the hospital I calmed myself down and told them whom I was here to see. Kendrick had told me to use a different name; it was for Caleb’s safety apparently. The nurse escorted me up to his room. She left me outside the door and I waiting anxiously a moment. What if he didn't want to see me? What if he was really hurt and the Earl hadn't told me? What if he didn't care anymore? These questions and a million more race through my head.

---

Anne knocked softly on the hospital room door. There was silence that answered. Caleb had already removed himself from the restraints, and had pilfered himself a set of doctor’s clothing. He was not expecting company. Gently Anne pushed the door open. “Caleb?” She whispered softly.

Hearing the voice he lowered the IV needle and confirmed it was here. “Xile?” He whispered just as softly.

A shaky breath was all that Anne could manage for a moment. “Are you all right?”

“I'm alive, though I'm still a bit puzzled on that.”

“Oh…I see.” Interlocking her hands a moment Anne tried to muster up the courage to say how much she loved him. Instead, Anne whispered an apology. “I'm so sorry.”

“For?”

The ex-pirate struggled to keep her voice steady. “For being absolutely insensitive to you. For losing your trust. For this whole stupid mess.”

Caleb watched her for a moment, seeing her struggle, and hearing the fluctuations in her voice. He had to know for sure. “Explain.”

An involuntary but sad smile crosses her face. “You're not going to make this easy are you?” Anne sighed and leaned against the wall, hugging herself. “I'm sorry that I didn't tell you what I felt sooner. That I made you think I didn't care about you at all. That I ruined our shot at happiness together.” Why couldn’t she bring herself to say those three little words? Was she just afraid of his answer?

“There is little in life that is easy, Xile... we both know the cold hard truth of that. And I still do not know how you feel. I'm not even sure I know what I feel. What I did feel is something, which is foreign to me... and…” he struggled to find the words.. this, too, was new to him. “Xile... I do not own you… but I will see you safe. I am a shadow that will not go away with the light.”

He kept calling her Xile. Why didn’t he call her Anne? “I don't want you to go away.”

“What do you want?” That was the first time he had actually asked her this. The first time she’d heard him ask her that particular question.

Anne trembled, her voice was quiet but the word that left her lips was very clear. “You.”

Caleb stood there a long moment, watching her... seeing her... the only question that came to mind he voiced. He always did, even if he didn't want to know the answer, or what it would cost for it. “Why?”

Tears threatened to overwhelm but she managed to keep herself together. “Do I need a reason?” Anne stood up and paced for something to do. “You've stuck with me for months now, I mean you’re committed, you've always intrigued me and... well...” She stopped pacing. “I just do.”

“Even knowing who and what I am? What I do and what I'm capable of doing?”

There was a moment when Anne tried to explain that he was who he was. And that’s why she cared for him. All that came out was “Some things you just accept.” Her fingers found their way into her hair and brushed it back. “I understand if you'd rather not be with me or if you've given up on me. I can leave if you want me too, I'll leave RhyDin and you'll never hear of me again.” There was a slight pause. “What do you want?” It was only fair of her to ask that too.

His chuckle was dry. “Leaving RhyDin would only put me in a boat that you are on.” Caleb was next to her without a sound made. “And what I want.. I want off this damn rock. I grow quickly tired of politics.”

Doubt crept into Anne’s mind. “Is that all?”

He smiled, though he knew she couldn't see it. “It never is.” Anne let him pull her in tightly to his chest. She slipped her arms around his waist as he kissed her for the second time.

In that instance every doubt left. Holding on to him tightly Anne whispered into his ear. “Think we should go back to the house?”

Caleb chuckled. “Why? I'm wanted there to...” his voice turned quickly hard, “and seeing as how my only contact to get off this rock has now become a walking corpse.. it seems I might need to... obtain a new means of leaving. Good thing I know a captain.”

Anne wondered what contact and captain he was talking about. Whatever the answer, she knew that he had to come with her back to the house. “I'm sure you can come back to the house. Please come with me?”

Caleb looked into her eyes for a while, weighing each decision he needed to make, and the consequences of him showing up at the Triberg estates. Finally, he nodded. He would take care of his own when the confrontation came, and he would see to it that Anne and the children were removed and secured if the need came again for flight. He pulled the lab coat on finally, and turned, taking Anne's hand. “Lets go then..”

She smiled happily and popped the question. It was a lot easier then Anne imagined. “How does eloping sound to you?”

“So you're asking me a second time?”

“Wasn't aware I'd asked you a first time.”

He chuckled. “The answer's the same.”

Anne was fairly certain of the answer, but it was better not to assume in this case. “Which is?”

He smiled, leaving the question hanging as the 'doctor' led her from the room, and out the hospital.

[Azjah von Drachen Walde]

As I watched the news flashes about Kendrick murdering the Kaiser, I couldn' thelp but think back to the previous morning when I'd had my talk with Anne.

I had been working on the computer changing and updating files and documents when a knock had come at the library door. I assumed it was house staff, and simply said, "come," but continued to work without looking up.

Anne's voice broke my concentration, "Hello Azjah."

I rose quickly and embraced her in a hug. My questions flew. "How are you? Where have you been? Did he hurt you?"

We sat down onto one of the leather sofas and she told me she'd been at the Earl's estates and that physically she was fine.

"Anne, we've been worried sick! That man's a monster."

She chose her words carefully as she told me she didn't think Kendrick was a monster, but that he'd merely made some wrong choises in life.

I was shocked. I could not believe she was defending the man! She compared her own misadventures to Kendricks, but for me there simply is no comparison, and then she told me she'd invited him to my home.

I could feel the blood drain from my face as my first instinct was to tell her no, but she reached for my hand as her next words rocked the foundation of my soul. "Azjah, you were right about some things concerning the Earl. However, I think we're judging him when we don't have all the facts." She continued on before I could respond, telling me that Kendrick had admitted to killing my parents. Though certain circumstances drove him to it.

I wanted to rail at her, how could she accept this man and believe his tales of victimization, but I couldn't.

She was insistent about going with Kendrick to obtain answers and resolve her own conscience about the Earl.

I wanted to send Lucien with her, I hated the thought that she would once more be alone with that animal, but neither she nor Lucien would agree to his presence to protect her.

Anne kept comparing her actions to Kendrick's, but Kendrick delighted in his killing, Anne did not. They were not similar at all in my mind.

Anne tried to defend him, and in the end, and uncomfortable silence descended around us.

At length, Anne asked me if Caleb had returned. He had not as far as I knew. She gave me a forced smile, "well, he can take care of himself."

I shook my head, they were both stubborn as proverbial mules, "Yes, but he's alone in an alien world Anne, and he's hurt."

Her fake smile vanished, "that would be my fault too."

They were both being willfully blind, "Anne, Caleb loves you, but he can't tell you."

She gave me an incredulous expression, "why not? If he really did, wouldn't he tell me?"

"Have you told him that you love him?" I turned the tables on her, putting that very same ball into her court. She did love him, and yet she couldn't say it either.

She bit her lip, "no. You know I never was sure until he left, until I felt his absence. It's pretty pathetic, isn't it? We don't realize what we have until it's left us."

I glanced at Lucien, "It's never clear, at least not for me Anne. Even now I know doubts about how Klinton feels." I think I always will have doubt, because to lose that would mean that I've come to take his love for granted, and I never want to do that. But, with that doubt comes some moments of fear too.

Her children called out for her and she'd risen to go after them. She'd left me in deep thought as I mulled over Kendrick's admission.

Now, today, the world knows what I've known for years. The Earl is a murdering monster.

[Anne]

It had been little under a half hour since Kendrick had assassinated the Kaiser. I was sitting with a cup of lemon-concentrate wondering about where he was. Azjah may think that he delighted in murder. I don’t think so. Not after the drive I’d had with him. Someone knocked on my door.

“Come.”

I heard the door open and a young, crisp male voice called out. “A package for you Madame.”

“From?”

“The Earl of Tuebingen, Madame.”

My cup froze on its way to my lips. “Bring it here please.” I heard the package drop beside me. “Thank you.”

When he left I ran my fingers over the package. It was very full. I set it on my lap and opened it as carefully as I could. I felt various papers with wax seals, notices, various documents. I figured they must be of great importance but I didn’t know what they were. Then I felt a tape recorder in my hand with headphones. I placed them on my head and fumbled with the buttons. After some trial and error I finally heard the Earls voice.

---
Anne,

The Catholics say that confession is good for the soul. Well, I've never had much use for the church and I'm pretty sure that by now my soul is beyond the help of a simple confession but I do need to let someone know what I've done in case I don't survive. It is an interesting point to note that the only person I have to tell is a woman I've known for less than a month.

You asked about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Azjah's parents. As I said, I was involved. My father had proposed that Azjah and I be wed, her father laughed in his face. My father brought me up telling me that duty and honor were everything and he was in a rage after that. He demanded that the honor of the house be upheld and that
since the insult was directed at me, that I be the one to uphold it. The bomb was never intended to kill her mother as well, but it did. My father bought off the investigating officers. I idolized the man. I didn't even begin to question him until almost a year later. My brother tried to go against my father's wishes, he wanted to become an author, children's stories I believe. My father beat him to death with his bare hands and yet another accident took one of the peerage. A year and a half later I killed my father and made it look like an accident. The symmetry appealed to me.

I went downhill quickly after that. I tried my hand at drinking, drugs, crimes numerous and varied, you name it. I managed to drive away almost everyone I had ever called a friend. Yes, even I had friends once. One man would not abandon me. Our dear Prince pulled me out of trouble and protected me from what I had done when he had no reason to do so. I cannot divulge the specifics but I will say that he returned to me my honor and since that day I have worked towards one goal, to protect him and the empire he loves so well.

Unknown to the Prince, a little over a year ago the Kaiser and some of his advisors decided that the Prince was a threat and began to try and eliminate him. I have intercepted three attempts on his life and with your help eliminated that last two advisors involved in their planning. One threat remains to the Prince however, the Kaiser himself.

This evening I will kill the Kaiser and will most likely perish in the attempt. I claim full responsibility for my actions. The Prince would not approve of this course because he is a good man much like I'd like to think my brother would have been if I could have protected him. He will make a good Kaiser and his Empire will not be one a monster like
me will welcome in. This is for the better.

Witnessed by the Prince, I have transferred my title and holdings to your son to be held in trust by yourself and Lord Caer until his majority. As you said, our families are similar; hopefully that explains why I do this. I have no heir to abdicate to so I do so in
favor of your son. The Lord and Lady Caer will be able to aid you in what is necessary to see that your sons interests are preserved. Again it is telling that I trust my most strident rivals in this where I dare not trust those who call me friend.

I have also sent a confession to the Prince and the press stating that I was responsible for not only the killings I forced you to commit but those that your friend committed as well. Hopefully this will allow him to return to RhyDin with you without incident. It was the only way I could find to make sure he stayed alive and you would be able to speak with him. I will not admit to the attack on Lord Caer however, that I still believe to have been your friend though I do not understand his reasons. Please take care when around him.

You suggested that I try to find a different path. If I survive maybe I will find one. If not then goodbye Milady, for that is what you will forever be to me.

Your Servant,

Kendrick
---

Your Servant. The tape clicked closed and I slipped the earphones off. Your Servant. Why did he call himself that?

Tears not wished for slid down my cheeks. I didn’t know why, but they did. I loved Caleb. But Kendrick also had a place in my heart. Why? I don’t know and I doubt I ever will. Perhaps because our families are…or were, so similar, and that’s what he is to me. Family. Odd, I’ve known him for less then a month. I slipped the tape in my jean pocket. I would keep it with me until I met him or I would take it to my grave. Rising, I took the rest of the papers and left to find Azjah. She would explain what they were to me.