03-23-2020, 07:12 PM
Grapevale, Kerlile
Present Day
Veronica Penners read through the letter she’d found in her pocket for the umpteenth time as she made her way through Grapevale, heading for the address she’d memorised long ago, when she was only almost a teenager. She’d misjudged Alvarez. It was an error she shouldn’t have made - assuming that the woman would underestimate her. While Auroras liked to be underestimated, assuming it was a certainty was foolish. Of course Alvarez would have known she’d escape, it was meant to happen. Democratic politicians, always trying to save face.
Dear Veronica, and whoever you answer to,
I couldn’t risk it being leaked that I let you go, but I trust that if you’re reading this, you managed to escape regardless. I’m glad. I do not know who exactly you work for beyond the obvious, but I believe you when you say that your mission will not harm my nation. But, to be on the safe side, I’ve enclosed this letter for you to show your employer.
The Federation of Lauchenoiria has a complex history, as you undoubtedly know. Our relationship with the Matriarchy has been tense for many decades now, a fact which up until recently seemed impossible to change. It is a source of bafflement for many here that your actions in our civil war have led to the possibility of reform, but despite what you will hear from some in Lauchenoiria, there is hope that our relationship can improve.
If you are, as Ms Penners says, on the side of reform, then I invite you to consider the ways we can help each other. I do not want our hostile relations to continue, but without true reform that seems inevitable. We cannot violate the sanctions we must place upon the Matriarchy, but I write to ensure you that if there is a way in which we can end the hostility and live in peace, that I am willing to take it. I have granted Ms Penners her freedom in this manner as a gesture of goodwill.
Yours sincerely,
Josephine Alvarez
Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria
Veronica thought it was rather a lot of trouble to go to in order to deliver a letter, but she supposed that Alvarez was rather concerned about it falling into the wrong hands. After all, there were many who would use such a thing against her. She was grateful, however, that they had allowed her to make her escape. It would not have been good for their mission if she had been imprisoned; she had to make contact soon.
Reaching the door of the building she’d been instructed to go to, should she find herself in this kind of situation, she hesitated somewhat nervously before knocking. Things hadn’t gone according to plan so far, since her assignment, and it suddenly occurred to her that perhaps it had fallen apart long ago. If this was the case, then what awaited her on the other side of the door? Freedom and salvation from her mission… or a fate worse than death?
“Hi? Who is it?” poked a head around the door. A teenage girl stood there, one that Veronica recognised immediately.
“Natasha Robinson,” Veronica said, hiding her surprise. “My name was Renee, once.”
“Oh, you’re one of our Auroras,” the teenager shrugged. “Come in.”
Natasha pulled the door open fully and headed back off down the corridor, leaving Veronica to enter, shut the door and follow. The corridor looked like a normal hallway of a residential property, with photographs on the wall, of nobody she recognised. They were probably a random family, somewhere, who had no idea their photos were on this wall. Natasha led her to a door, which she opened and disappeared through. Veronica followed, entering the stairway to the basement, and shut it behind her, hearing the click of a lock.
“It’s an Aurora,” Natasha called as they headed down the stairs. “Renee.”
“Ah, Renee, or do you prefer Veronica?” asked Councillor Carmen Robinson, who was sitting in the basement on what seemed to be a normal couch, knitting something. Several filing cabinets on the other side of the room had drawers open, revealing empty compartments. A paper shredding machine sat in the corner, and three boxes of shredded paper were sitting nearing the staircase. Natasha headed over to a small kitchenette and picked up what looked like a mug of hot chocolate, sipping it and watching Veronica.
“Veronica, if you don’t mind,” she said, hovering, uncertainly looking around the room. Aside from the two Robinsons, it was empty. This was not what she’d been expecting.
“Please, sit down Veronica,” the Councillor said, gesturing to an armchair across from her. “I understand you must be confused. You’re lucky we were here, actually, we’ve just been checking out the paperwork. This is our tea break. Would you like some?”
“Coffee, if possible,” she said, still confused. “What happened here?”
“We decided against going through with the mission,” Carmen said gently. “I know you might be disappointed, but this is for the best. Reform is happening without us needing to take these risks, and so we’ve called it off.”
“Oh, thank the Goddess,” Veronica breathed, relaxing into the armchair and looking up at the ceiling. “This is a much better plan, honestly.”
“That’s what I said, mother,” smirked Natasha, coming over and sitting down on the couch next to the Councillor. “Us young people can see clearer. You’re still stuck in the old days.”
“Thank you, Natasha,” her mother said sarcastically, but with a slight grin. “I was going to send out messages to you all, of course, but we haven't got around to it. Between the USB mishap and President Arnott, it would be foolish to move forward.”
“You’d have done it if I hadn’t told you,” Natasha said. “Cause you’d think you wasted all this time,” she laughed as her mother rolled her eyes.
“Um, Councillor?” Veronica said, more confidently than most when addressing a Councillor, “I just wanted to ask what your plan is for the ones you rescued in 2003?”
“Two possible solutions,” Carmen said, “one is we bring Councillor Hale in and we see if we can negotiate some kind of deal for them. The other is that we get in contact with a friendly government, such as Xiomera, on the matter.”
“Oh, on the topic of foreign governments…” Veronica began, then pulled the letter out of her pocket and handed it to the Councillor. “This is from Alvarez.”
“Wait, I’m confused. Who did you rescue in 2003?” frowned Natasha.
“Ah, so you didn’t figure that part out?” Carmen smiled. “Well, this is going to be an interesting conversation…”
*
Restricted Region, Kerlile
13th October 2003 - dawn
Kat sat slumped in the corner of her cell, her eyes gazing blankly at the wall. She’d been in the position for hours, watching the door as the others slept curled up on the floor. Kat didn’t sleep at the same time as the others. She couldn’t, she’d been captured while she was asleep and she feared sleeping without someone keeping watch over her. Even after all these years, she still needed someone to be awake.
They’d been allowed to wash yesterday, which meant the cell was cleaner than it was for the rest of the week, but it was still cramped conditions for the four of them. It had been worse at the start, when there were six, but then…
Kat shook her head. She didn’t want to think about that. It hadn’t happened. None of this was happening, it was all a nightmare and she’d wake up one day. She wasn’t locked in a small cell with four others, forced to sleep on the floor, alone, not knowing if any of her family had even survived the war. It wasn’t true, it couldn’t be true, it was just a test, just a long nightmare and she’d wake up soon. This wasn’t the rest of her life.
On the floor, Meg groaned and shifted position as she started to wake, turning over so her left hand was visible to Kat. In response, Kat quickly squeezed her eyes tightly shut. She didn’t want to see Meg’s hand, not with the missing finger. She clutched her own hands tightly to her chest, checking all ten digits were intact. She’d been one of the lucky ones, considered too young for that particular torture when she’d been captured.
“Sorry, Kat,” whispered Meg, as she woke to see Kat’s eyes squeezed shut. Meg sat up and moved to sit next to Kat, putting her arm around the younger girl, who promptly pulled into Meg as if she could hide from reality in the woman’s arms. “It’s okay, I promise I won’t let them do it to you, ever,” she soothed Kat.
“I can’t do this,” Kat said, tears running down her cheeks again. “Please, please just let me.”
“[i[No[/i], Kat,” Meg scolded softly. “You’ll survive this. It won’t last forever. I know you don’t want to end it, really. There will come a day when we’ll be free again. It will happen.”
In response, Kat nodded, and closed her eyes, slowing her breathing and preparing to fall asleep now that she was in Meg’s arms. The other two had started to wake as well, but Georgina hadn’t spoken a word in two years, just sitting there staring, and Chrissie had been beaten for talking back the other day and was still shaken.
“You’re so optimistic,” whispered Kat. They always whispered, the guards got angry if they heard talking. Her stomach rumbled, but it always did. The constant hunger made her feel incredibly weak.
“Well, I…” Meg fell silent quickly as they heard the clunk that signified the cell door was about to be opened. Meg, Kat and Chrissie shared alarmed looks. They were not expecting anyone.
Chrissie joined the other two, and the trio pressed themselves against the corner, clutching each other tightly and staring unblinking at the door in terror. Georgina stayed lying down, she didn’t move very much, only really responding to direct orders. The others had tried to help her at first, but she’d fallen apart after Isabel had died. Just slowly deteriorating, piece by piece, as their long, indefinite imprisonment continued.
“Get up!” one of the guards commanded as she pulled open the door. They all obeyed, even Georgina, though she was slower to do so. Standing up made Kat feel dizzy, in her weakened state of hunger and mistreatment. “Follow.”
Kat looked at Meg, who shrugged before they left the cell, being surrounded and led by guards into a line of prisoners. Kat was suddenly very alert, and not at all tired. Only part of it was fear, the rest was the thrill and excitement of something different. The lives for those imprisoned for being part of Democratic Kerlian State had been the same day after day since their capture. This was a change in routine.
“Do you know what’s happening?” the prisoner in front of them whispered as they all were forced to shuffle forward slowly. Kat and Meg shook their heads, but Chrissie leaned forward.
“I heard a rumour…” she began, but a guard glanced in their direction and all of them shut up immediately.
Suddenly, Kat felt a peculiar feeling on her arms, like something was playing with the short hairs, a ghost of a memory… or perhaps it was only the wind. Startled, she stood on her tiptoes and looked over the line. Yes! They were being led outside! It had been many years since she’d stepped outside, they hadn’t been allowed at all. The thought of it made her dizzy with excitement and a dash of hope. Perhaps they were being let go!
She moved more eagerly, knowing their destination, as she felt the rest of the line realise it. For every prisoner like Kat, who pushed forwards, there was one who hung back, fearing the outside and the change more than daring to hope for what it meant. The guards pushed those who held back. But for Kat, who had been captured when she was only 16, it represented a chance of life, a chance of survival she’d almost given up on having.
They were led into a line of women, surrounded by buildings and fences. She could see male prisoners being led out of another building and lined up also, which startled her. Kat looked around, wondering what was happening, as the others filed out behind her. Her cell had been among the last to be collected, it appeared, as there weren’t many behind her, and soon everyone was standing in the crowd. They weren’t restrained, they were so weakened from years of mistreatment and almost starvation that it would be hard for any of them to fight. Suddenly, one of the guards stood up on top of something and surveyed the crowd, gesturing for silence which fell immediately. The guard then spoke.
“You are all going to be executed today.”
Kat’s heart plummeted.
To be continued…
Present Day
Veronica Penners read through the letter she’d found in her pocket for the umpteenth time as she made her way through Grapevale, heading for the address she’d memorised long ago, when she was only almost a teenager. She’d misjudged Alvarez. It was an error she shouldn’t have made - assuming that the woman would underestimate her. While Auroras liked to be underestimated, assuming it was a certainty was foolish. Of course Alvarez would have known she’d escape, it was meant to happen. Democratic politicians, always trying to save face.
Dear Veronica, and whoever you answer to,
I couldn’t risk it being leaked that I let you go, but I trust that if you’re reading this, you managed to escape regardless. I’m glad. I do not know who exactly you work for beyond the obvious, but I believe you when you say that your mission will not harm my nation. But, to be on the safe side, I’ve enclosed this letter for you to show your employer.
The Federation of Lauchenoiria has a complex history, as you undoubtedly know. Our relationship with the Matriarchy has been tense for many decades now, a fact which up until recently seemed impossible to change. It is a source of bafflement for many here that your actions in our civil war have led to the possibility of reform, but despite what you will hear from some in Lauchenoiria, there is hope that our relationship can improve.
If you are, as Ms Penners says, on the side of reform, then I invite you to consider the ways we can help each other. I do not want our hostile relations to continue, but without true reform that seems inevitable. We cannot violate the sanctions we must place upon the Matriarchy, but I write to ensure you that if there is a way in which we can end the hostility and live in peace, that I am willing to take it. I have granted Ms Penners her freedom in this manner as a gesture of goodwill.
Yours sincerely,
Josephine Alvarez
Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria
Veronica thought it was rather a lot of trouble to go to in order to deliver a letter, but she supposed that Alvarez was rather concerned about it falling into the wrong hands. After all, there were many who would use such a thing against her. She was grateful, however, that they had allowed her to make her escape. It would not have been good for their mission if she had been imprisoned; she had to make contact soon.
Reaching the door of the building she’d been instructed to go to, should she find herself in this kind of situation, she hesitated somewhat nervously before knocking. Things hadn’t gone according to plan so far, since her assignment, and it suddenly occurred to her that perhaps it had fallen apart long ago. If this was the case, then what awaited her on the other side of the door? Freedom and salvation from her mission… or a fate worse than death?
“Hi? Who is it?” poked a head around the door. A teenage girl stood there, one that Veronica recognised immediately.
“Natasha Robinson,” Veronica said, hiding her surprise. “My name was Renee, once.”
“Oh, you’re one of our Auroras,” the teenager shrugged. “Come in.”
Natasha pulled the door open fully and headed back off down the corridor, leaving Veronica to enter, shut the door and follow. The corridor looked like a normal hallway of a residential property, with photographs on the wall, of nobody she recognised. They were probably a random family, somewhere, who had no idea their photos were on this wall. Natasha led her to a door, which she opened and disappeared through. Veronica followed, entering the stairway to the basement, and shut it behind her, hearing the click of a lock.
“It’s an Aurora,” Natasha called as they headed down the stairs. “Renee.”
“Ah, Renee, or do you prefer Veronica?” asked Councillor Carmen Robinson, who was sitting in the basement on what seemed to be a normal couch, knitting something. Several filing cabinets on the other side of the room had drawers open, revealing empty compartments. A paper shredding machine sat in the corner, and three boxes of shredded paper were sitting nearing the staircase. Natasha headed over to a small kitchenette and picked up what looked like a mug of hot chocolate, sipping it and watching Veronica.
“Veronica, if you don’t mind,” she said, hovering, uncertainly looking around the room. Aside from the two Robinsons, it was empty. This was not what she’d been expecting.
“Please, sit down Veronica,” the Councillor said, gesturing to an armchair across from her. “I understand you must be confused. You’re lucky we were here, actually, we’ve just been checking out the paperwork. This is our tea break. Would you like some?”
“Coffee, if possible,” she said, still confused. “What happened here?”
“We decided against going through with the mission,” Carmen said gently. “I know you might be disappointed, but this is for the best. Reform is happening without us needing to take these risks, and so we’ve called it off.”
“Oh, thank the Goddess,” Veronica breathed, relaxing into the armchair and looking up at the ceiling. “This is a much better plan, honestly.”
“That’s what I said, mother,” smirked Natasha, coming over and sitting down on the couch next to the Councillor. “Us young people can see clearer. You’re still stuck in the old days.”
“Thank you, Natasha,” her mother said sarcastically, but with a slight grin. “I was going to send out messages to you all, of course, but we haven't got around to it. Between the USB mishap and President Arnott, it would be foolish to move forward.”
“You’d have done it if I hadn’t told you,” Natasha said. “Cause you’d think you wasted all this time,” she laughed as her mother rolled her eyes.
“Um, Councillor?” Veronica said, more confidently than most when addressing a Councillor, “I just wanted to ask what your plan is for the ones you rescued in 2003?”
“Two possible solutions,” Carmen said, “one is we bring Councillor Hale in and we see if we can negotiate some kind of deal for them. The other is that we get in contact with a friendly government, such as Xiomera, on the matter.”
“Oh, on the topic of foreign governments…” Veronica began, then pulled the letter out of her pocket and handed it to the Councillor. “This is from Alvarez.”
“Wait, I’m confused. Who did you rescue in 2003?” frowned Natasha.
“Ah, so you didn’t figure that part out?” Carmen smiled. “Well, this is going to be an interesting conversation…”
*
Restricted Region, Kerlile
13th October 2003 - dawn
Kat sat slumped in the corner of her cell, her eyes gazing blankly at the wall. She’d been in the position for hours, watching the door as the others slept curled up on the floor. Kat didn’t sleep at the same time as the others. She couldn’t, she’d been captured while she was asleep and she feared sleeping without someone keeping watch over her. Even after all these years, she still needed someone to be awake.
They’d been allowed to wash yesterday, which meant the cell was cleaner than it was for the rest of the week, but it was still cramped conditions for the four of them. It had been worse at the start, when there were six, but then…
Kat shook her head. She didn’t want to think about that. It hadn’t happened. None of this was happening, it was all a nightmare and she’d wake up one day. She wasn’t locked in a small cell with four others, forced to sleep on the floor, alone, not knowing if any of her family had even survived the war. It wasn’t true, it couldn’t be true, it was just a test, just a long nightmare and she’d wake up soon. This wasn’t the rest of her life.
On the floor, Meg groaned and shifted position as she started to wake, turning over so her left hand was visible to Kat. In response, Kat quickly squeezed her eyes tightly shut. She didn’t want to see Meg’s hand, not with the missing finger. She clutched her own hands tightly to her chest, checking all ten digits were intact. She’d been one of the lucky ones, considered too young for that particular torture when she’d been captured.
“Sorry, Kat,” whispered Meg, as she woke to see Kat’s eyes squeezed shut. Meg sat up and moved to sit next to Kat, putting her arm around the younger girl, who promptly pulled into Meg as if she could hide from reality in the woman’s arms. “It’s okay, I promise I won’t let them do it to you, ever,” she soothed Kat.
“I can’t do this,” Kat said, tears running down her cheeks again. “Please, please just let me.”
“[i[No[/i], Kat,” Meg scolded softly. “You’ll survive this. It won’t last forever. I know you don’t want to end it, really. There will come a day when we’ll be free again. It will happen.”
In response, Kat nodded, and closed her eyes, slowing her breathing and preparing to fall asleep now that she was in Meg’s arms. The other two had started to wake as well, but Georgina hadn’t spoken a word in two years, just sitting there staring, and Chrissie had been beaten for talking back the other day and was still shaken.
“You’re so optimistic,” whispered Kat. They always whispered, the guards got angry if they heard talking. Her stomach rumbled, but it always did. The constant hunger made her feel incredibly weak.
“Well, I…” Meg fell silent quickly as they heard the clunk that signified the cell door was about to be opened. Meg, Kat and Chrissie shared alarmed looks. They were not expecting anyone.
Chrissie joined the other two, and the trio pressed themselves against the corner, clutching each other tightly and staring unblinking at the door in terror. Georgina stayed lying down, she didn’t move very much, only really responding to direct orders. The others had tried to help her at first, but she’d fallen apart after Isabel had died. Just slowly deteriorating, piece by piece, as their long, indefinite imprisonment continued.
“Get up!” one of the guards commanded as she pulled open the door. They all obeyed, even Georgina, though she was slower to do so. Standing up made Kat feel dizzy, in her weakened state of hunger and mistreatment. “Follow.”
Kat looked at Meg, who shrugged before they left the cell, being surrounded and led by guards into a line of prisoners. Kat was suddenly very alert, and not at all tired. Only part of it was fear, the rest was the thrill and excitement of something different. The lives for those imprisoned for being part of Democratic Kerlian State had been the same day after day since their capture. This was a change in routine.
“Do you know what’s happening?” the prisoner in front of them whispered as they all were forced to shuffle forward slowly. Kat and Meg shook their heads, but Chrissie leaned forward.
“I heard a rumour…” she began, but a guard glanced in their direction and all of them shut up immediately.
Suddenly, Kat felt a peculiar feeling on her arms, like something was playing with the short hairs, a ghost of a memory… or perhaps it was only the wind. Startled, she stood on her tiptoes and looked over the line. Yes! They were being led outside! It had been many years since she’d stepped outside, they hadn’t been allowed at all. The thought of it made her dizzy with excitement and a dash of hope. Perhaps they were being let go!
She moved more eagerly, knowing their destination, as she felt the rest of the line realise it. For every prisoner like Kat, who pushed forwards, there was one who hung back, fearing the outside and the change more than daring to hope for what it meant. The guards pushed those who held back. But for Kat, who had been captured when she was only 16, it represented a chance of life, a chance of survival she’d almost given up on having.
They were led into a line of women, surrounded by buildings and fences. She could see male prisoners being led out of another building and lined up also, which startled her. Kat looked around, wondering what was happening, as the others filed out behind her. Her cell had been among the last to be collected, it appeared, as there weren’t many behind her, and soon everyone was standing in the crowd. They weren’t restrained, they were so weakened from years of mistreatment and almost starvation that it would be hard for any of them to fight. Suddenly, one of the guards stood up on top of something and surveyed the crowd, gesturing for silence which fell immediately. The guard then spoke.
“You are all going to be executed today.”
Kat’s heart plummeted.
To be continued…
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax