The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 29

---

Chapter 29

"Where to?" Jennifer asked the Reginadde Ambassador.

She pulled up the map of his home planet onto the navigation console.

"This is the compound where the Signatories debate and sign laws. That is the hopperport."

"Is that a public street there?"

"Yes. It will be about a three-hundred-tick walk from the hopperport."

"Couldn't we just land inside the compound?"

"If we do that, the outer guards are liable to open fire. If we approach in the open, they will have chance to understand we aren't invading."

Everyone was in, and the Frotanian Ambassador shut the door. Nobody apart from Jennifer was sat. There were too many and it wasn't a long journey.

"Leaving," she stated and set the Interdimensional Drive into operation. In a blink the ship left and within a tick, they were there.

"I'm so looking forward to our ships getting the newer drive," the Ambassador stated enviously.

"Jennifer, you need to come with us," stated Vers'am.

Jennifer swallowed, pushing down her dread. She thought she was just dropping them off.

They all got out and Jennifer looked around. She wished she'd worn something nicer, but she'd not expected to be travelling to the Reginadde home world. The words of her mum filtered into her mind, 'Prepare for anything'. She pushed that to the back of her mind. Now wasn't the time.

The Reginadde Ambassador and the Alphonian Ambassador, as head of the Rohastin Council walked ahead. The other Ambassadors followed, their green cloaks blowing in the breeze. Jennifer ended up in the middle of them. A few Ambassadors had pushed her into the middle of the throng. She had no shields and they didn't want to lose the Knot.

As they approached the exit of the hopperport, the official on duty swung the gates open. He stood watching, seeing a procession he'd never witnessed. They were then onto the street, and the public got a view of them. Rather like on Earth, when something unusual happened, people took pictures. It seems the Reginaddes were no different. There was no sign of fighting.

The material they were walking on was some type of stone. It had red mottling and sparkled in the light from the two suns in the sky. Jennifer had only been there once when she was at school. They'd performed a concert there the year after performing on the Rohastin Station. It was all coming back to her, the look of the buildings, and especially the scent. The fauna on their world was very different, and therefore the smell in the air. It smelt clean and spicy.

As they progressed, people came onto the street to get a glimpse of the strange sight. Their news had covered a confrontation at the Signatories. They'd also covered how the Rohastin Station had gone silent. And now they were here. Not just their ambassador but all of them.

The Reginaddes had been members of the Rohastin Council for centuries. They grew up learning the Reginadde language and Hytuna. Yet the majority of them had never seen an alien with their own eyes. They travelled to different towns on this planet or many others in their realm, but going outside that comfort was rare.

Nobody shouted or cheered. Nobody screamed. It seemed eerie how they watched without action. Perhaps it was just their way. They didn't applaud at the end of their concert either.

"Smile, you're on TV," Georgina said in English.

Jennifer looked up and saw a few dots in the sky.

"You've good eyesight," Jennifer commented.

"I just know what to look for."

"I dread to think what my parents will say if they ever see this," Jennifer mused and Georgina laughed.

"I was in my mid-twenties when I got asked to help negotiate a peace treaty," Georgina stated. "My parents were horrified when I ended up in one of the two warring countries. They thought I was going to die. Some get used to it. Some don't. I did the job because I could ... and then it all changed."

"If the Yvestigans hadn't tried to stop you, you might never have been in a position to bring humans to the Rohastin."

"I know. Things sometimes don't work out the way you expect. I've learnt to accept and make the most out of it. I'd never want to be anywhere different than where I am now."

They got to the entrance to where the Reginadde government sat. The gates were closed and guards stood by them.

"Open up," called the Reginadde Ambassador.

"Is this an invasion?" one of the guards asked nervously. "We were ordered to lock the gates."

"No," Vers'am said loudly so they would all hear. "We come in peace to bring peace. We bring a witness on what has happened."

The ambassadors moved to one side, exposing Jennifer. Jennifer swallowed as she was exposed. Her heart picked up as she wondered if she was safe. Those guards looked to have big guns.

One of the guards gasped. "It's one of the Trinity. It's the Knot."

Jennifer's stomach flipped. Why did someone always identify her and refer to her as one of the Trinity. She was just Jennifer North.

Another guard came across and looked. "It IS one of the Trinity. Open the gates. Let them in."

Jennifer's eyes opened in surprise. They were letting them in, not because of the Reginadde Ambassador. Not because of the Rohastin. But because some prophecy had given her a title?

The Ambassadors once again closed around Jennifer, and they entered the grounds of their parliament. The stone in the wide path had changed colour. It was now a dull black with a light orange mottled effect. On both sides, there was a vast parkland with trees and bushes that resembled nothing like Jennifer had ever seen. The shiny silver leaves stood out in her mind, and she wondered what the Reginaddes thought of the greenery of Earth.

A sparkle of light played around the Reginadde Ambassadors cloak. Someone had fired on him. None of the ambassadors were armed, just wearing something with a protective shield. None of the ambassadors seemed to pay attention to it, and they continued their relentless walk towards the building that loomed in front of them.

Another sparkle, this time with other tints. A heavier weapon. The only person they were aiming at was the Reginadde Ambassador. The television camera hovered close by, recording and broadcasting it live across the Reginadde worlds. Such blatant hostility to the Rohastin which they'd agreed to treat with respect.

The procession moved with purpose and at a steady pace. When the first plasma bolt streamed across the lawn, the Reginadde Ambassador staggered for a moment with the force, but the shield held. He also didn't give up his place at the lead. This was his species. It was his parliament. He would not waver.

As they approached the building, two Yvestigan ships suddenly appeared to the right of them. The door opened and twenty Yvestigans jumped out, firing at the ambassadors.

"Trposin," muttered Georgina, as her shield was also being hit.

Trposin had once been an Ambassador to the Rohastin Council where he'd been involved with Trudy. Later, he'd tried to kill Georgina the first time she visited the station. He'd been expelled as Ambassador. With communications on the Rohastin Station being down, he wouldn't have known about Trudy's death. Jennifer thought about shouting that fact out but didn't. She didn't want to draw attention to herself.

"Keep calm," the Frotanian Ambassador said to Jennifer. "We're nearly at the entrance. We'll experience a heavier barrage when we're inside."

There was the sound of a commotion behind them. Jennifer turned to see a crowd of Reginaddes demanding to be let through the gates. The guards had closed them after the ambassadors had entered.

At the doors, the Reginadde Ambassador put his hand to the door, and it swung open. There was silence as they walked inside, and the doors closed behind them. It was a relief, no longer being fired on by the Yvestigans and whoever else had been attacking.

For some species, the march they'd endured was not welcome. Their physiology wasn't built for that level of activity. Yet there were no complaints. The pause just inside the doors gave them a moment's breather. It also let the shields get back to full strength.

"Are we ready?" Vers'am asked.

Nobody said they weren't, and they stepped forward, through another set of doors out of the entrance chamber and into the main lobby. It was a vast open plan room, with stairs going up to the next level and a corridor on the level above overlooking the lobby.

Laser fire rained down from above as they marched across the lobby towards the debating chamber. The light from the shields lit up. It wasn't just the Reginadde Ambassadors but seemed to surround Jennifer. The amount of light was almost painful to her eyes. A laser got through the ambassadors and hit Jennifer on the arm. If it was deliberate or they missed one of the ambassadors, she wasn't sure.

Four ambassadors from the rear broke formation and rushed up the stairs. The laser fire focused from the main group towards those four. Jennifer watched in horror as some form of heavy weapon was used and one of the four ambassadors fell. The other three continued without a backward glance, and a fight occurred. Nobody was killed but the people firing on the ambassadors were disarmed. As the first few Reginadde's fell, others fled their stations.

"Are you okay?" the Scotutr ambassador asked.

"It just hit the edge of my arm. I'm okay."

He looked at her arm, and underneath his cloak removed a small bag. He looked at her arm closer, and sprayed some liquid on it, and then put a small shield there. It wouldn't hold back weapons, but it was like a plaster to keep the wound clean.

The downed ambassador's shield had recovered and he stood. His protective cloak was like a secondary armour. It looked tinged but he would survive. The four of them rejoined the main group and they continued unhindered towards the chamber.

The wide corridor outside the chamber was a mess. A single shot was fired at the approaching Rohastin group and when they saw it was absorbed harmlessly, they all fled. Their task had been to get into the chamber. Not kill anybody approaching. The team in the lobby was supposed to stop anybody getting near them.

"Open up," the Reginadde Ambassador called with futility. The heavy chamber doors were shut. Even the forcefield protecting the doors was still in place. Any plotters within the Signatories had not managed to allow the hostile takeover.

It would be shown on the security screen, so there was hope they would be let in. Jennifer's stomach dropped. Had they got this far, and failed on the final hurdle?

"I'm going to need to lower my shield," the Reginadde Ambassador mentioned and a few other ambassadors moved to make sure he was protected.

In an attack, the Signatories disconnected from the world. Shielding themselves electronically and physically. The Reginadde Ambassador was part of the government, not a Signatory, but almost as important. He would be part of their closed network, if he let himself.

"This is the Ambassador," he said, broadcasting to those inside. "I am with the Rohastin Council. May we enter?"

There was silence and he imagined the chamber security team, checking the sensors.

The response came through quicker than he'd expected. "There is someone else with you. Hidden by the other ambassadors. Show them."

"Jennifer, they need to see you."

The other ambassadors loosened their protective huddle around her and the Reginadde Ambassador heard the shock from security. "Is that one of the Trinity?"

"It is. She is a witness. She has come with just us as her protection."

Time seemed to drag. Jennifer knew some discussion was ongoing. A discussion she wouldn't hear or be party to. She was in an area that only Reginaddes had ever stepped. Ever. And now not only was she there, but so were every other species in the Rohastin. When she woke up that day, she would never have thought this would be where she'd end up.

The large, ancient doors of the chamber slowly opened. Not fully, but enough so they would be able to enter in single file. Jennifer swallowed. She would enter unprotected into an unknown situation.

When she walked in, it looked nothing like she expected. She thought there would be devastation. Bodies lying where they'd fallen. The stench of death. Yet it seemed remarkably normal. There were a series of desks laid out in the shape of a hexagon with one of the sides omitted. That led to a few steps down to an inset floor.

Sat at the desks were the Signatories, looking like the Rohastin had disturbed their work. Jennifer looked down into the lowered floor in the centre. There sat the Law Bearer with Reggie and another young Reginadde standing protectively nearby. An empty seat next to the Law Bearer was where the Chief Advisor would have sat.

When Reggie saw Jennifer, she looked surprised and shook her head in wonder. Jennifer always seemed to do the impossible.

"I apologise for the interruption," the Reginadde Ambassador stated in his native tongue. "The insurgents have mostly fled. There were some Yvestigans trying to help them too. I came to report that the Chief Advisor is dead and that she was behind the plot."

Jennifer followed some of what was being said, but she wasn't totally fluent in their language. She knew the basics but some of what was being said wasn't covered in her training. Thankfully Vers'am translated into Hytuna for the ambassadors. How many languages did he speak?!

The Signatories didn't stay silent. They jabbered to those sat next to them. Some excitedly. Some in fright. Some in realisation how bad things had become while they'd been locked in isolation.

"The Rohastin have brought you a witness."

Jennifer stepped forward and there were gasps.

"She is Human. She doesn't have the right to stand as a witness," one of the Signatories shouted.

"That is not what the law says," the Law Bearer said, standing up in the centre. "We have never legislated against other species. We do recognise in law that other species can be trusted, reliable and honourable."

"Can our visual interface interpret her?" another Signatory asked.

"Yes," the Ambassador answered. "When the Rohastin provided Device access to the Station, we implemented the same upgrade. When she describes the events, they will access her memories and confirm."

For a moment, Jennifer closed her eyes and centred herself. She'd brought the ambassadors because she had the only ship that could. She'd not asked to come along, but it had been expected. She'd never been asked to be a witness, yet here she was. The Signatories needed to know the truth, and it had to be undeniable. It sounded like their interface was more invasive than the station Device.

The Reginadde Ambassador continued, "I also hold a crystal with evidence given by the person who killed the Chief Advisor. This was provided by the Rohastin Station, and it is in admissible format under the law."

"Let's hear from your witness," the Law Bearer stated. In Hytuna he stated, "Witness, come to the entrance to my domain, but do not come down the stairs."

Jennifer made her way forward and stood, facing the Signatories at her level, and the Law Bearer, Reggie and another protector lower down. There were only three shallow stairs, so it wasn't that deep. It reminded her of an orchestra pit when she'd been to see an opera.

"State who you are and your credentials."

"My birth name was Jennifer Head. I was born on the Human planet Earth. I currently use the name Jennifer North, adopting my life partners surname as is traditional where I come from. I operate a clothing shop on the Rohastin Station along with a Reginadde friend. I am one of the Trinity. I am the Knot."

Other people had referred to her as one of the Trinity. Other people had called her the Knot. This was the first time she'd called it herself and she shook slightly at the realisation.

"So entered. Please start by telling us of the death of the Chief Advisor."

Jennifer's first thought was of the events in the viewing area. As she brought those memories to mind, a hologram showed above her of the events. The hologram ended with her guard killing Trudy when she mentioned about killing the Signatories.

To Jennifer's amazement they didn't ask her more. She would have thought they might have asked why the Chief Advisor had looked for her. Or ask about Reggie. But they were stunned by the image of their trusted colleague promising their deaths.

"If I might be so bold to ask. What were you told about the Urattr?"

Reggie lowered her head. She couldn't believe that Jennifer was standing there treating the Signatories as equals. Daring to ask them questions.

The Law Bearer twitched a bit but answered. "They are a danger to us. They can stop our drives working and there is no fix."

"I present additional evidence, and a gift the Chief Advisor withheld from you."

The hologram showed the meeting where the Humans told them of the trials of an alternative Interdimensional Drive tunnel structure and their offer to give it openly to all the species.

"You will have to check with the scientist, but I am guessing he was being guided by the Chief Advisor. After all, that was her role."

One of the Signatories attempted to rise, but his hands seemed stuck to the desk. He grimaced and took his seat. Jennifer looked again and saw he had a bruise on his face. She glanced around and saw a few others sat with the hands in a similar fashion. Perhaps there had been disorder inside the chamber.

"Without the Chief Advisor here, I am making a suggestion in open conference. Strike the Chief Advisor from the Tenant."

Reggie whispered to the Law Bearer. He looked surprised and then nodded. "One of the two intelligence officers who saved us has something to say," he stated.

"We might learn from others. Humans state that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. One of the countries on Earth still marks the event when a citizen tried to blow up their government. He planted explosives underneath their parliament building but was discovered. In Reginadde decimal, that occurred over four hundred cycles ago. And yet they still remember and are still on their guard. They still search the tunnels just in case someone tries again."

"If the Chief Advisor is removed from the Tenant, it will be like she never existed and you will never remember how close to being killed you were."

"How dare you talk to the Signatories like that!" one of the Signatories bellowed.

"I gave her permission," the Law Bearer said. "I have that authority. And I'm going to propose a new law. The Law of Remembrance. I think that intelligence officer brings new thoughts to our body. Going forward we will remember the treachery of today. I know we'd all rather forget what happened. Pretend it is a bad dream. But it did happen. And unless we remember what tricks she used and what she made us do, someone else might do the same."

The Law Bearer turned to Jennifer. "Thank you for your witness testimony. In it we saw that the Yvestigans were going to attack your home world. I send hope that it isn't as bad as your memories portrayed."

Jennifer had put the plight of Earth to the back of her mind. Being reminded of it made her feel anxious for her friends and family. Had there been a big invasion? What defences had Earth built since the Australia Event?

"To the Rohastin Council. We wish to thank you for your help. For bringing the witness and reminding us that we are part of something bigger."

As Jennifer and the Rohastin walked out, they saw police officers still carrying out the Reginaddes who'd tried to attack the Signatories. Outside, the two Yvestigan ships were still there but there was no sign of Trposin or the other attackers.

It was way past her bedtime, and Jennifer suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion. She didn't know how her body had survived the adrenaline rush she'd had all evening. Yet the Station was still not communicating, and she had no idea on the status of Earth.

Not being able to bear the long walk back to the hopperport, she decided to see if the ship summoning would work as advertised. She reached into her rucksack and pulled out the control and initiated it. She whistled like calling for a dog, "Here Astraea ... Come to Jennifer."

Georgina looked at Jennifer wondering if it had been too much, and then Astraea was there, parked carelessly in the parkland surrounding the building.

"I thought some of you might not want the walk," Jennifer said loudly.

"Brilliant," said the Frotanian ambassador, one of the happiest to climb aboard.

"But the Station is still not communicating," Vers'am said as he climbed aboard.

"I already arranged my journey home with the Station before we left," Jennifer said and when the door closed, she unlocked the secret menu and took them back to the same spot they'd left.

"Sorry it isn't the Ambassador hangar," Jennifer apologised.

Vers'am, the Alphonian Ambassador, was one of the last off the Astraea. Jennifer was just behind him and said, "With everything happening, I forgot to tell you that the Urattr left earlier."

He turned round and said, "That is good news. Well done, whatever you did. However, to protect you I will ask the scientists for an update and let them tell me officially. You work in the shop, so wouldn't have been involved."

"Thank you," Jennifer responded, and as he went, she wondered how much he knew about her and her friends.