All That Glitters Ch. 29

"Thank-you Madame Chair, it is good to be recognized for one's efforts," Heyya returned with a small bow.

"The Chair would also like to congratulate Dr. Anaya, who has recently achieved her doctorates in Physiotherapy. Congratulations, Anaya," the Chair stated. Anaya rose and took a bow before nodding to Heyya.

"Madame Chair, I would like to submit a request for assistance from Liramor-23 to the Council," Heyya asked.

"Point of Order," one of the Councillors asked. The Chair held up a finger to Heyya and pointed to Councillor Geturyea. "Yes, Councillor?"

"While this is the new business section of the Grand Council, Madame Chair, we are still in the presentation of empaths portion of the new business and cannot entertain other business for the moment," the Councillor advised.

"Madame Chair, this is not my First Grand Council, I am aware of protocol and this business has to do with the presentation of a new empath," Heyya stated.

"Point of Order," proclaimed a different Councillor.

"Yes, Councillor?"

"Madame Chair, this empath should have been presented earlier in the day, we are already into the section of Grand Masters," the Councillor stated emphatically, looking slightly miffed.

"Once again, Councillor," Heyya interjected. "This is not my first 'rodeo', as they say. This person is being presented in their proper order. I would not infringe on the Councillor's time without reason," Heyya stated.

"Very well, Heyya. We will listen to your petition, however, if we find that you have wasted our time, we will consider appropriate action, including being censured," the Chair proclaimed.

"So noted, Madame Chair," Heyya agreed. "May I introduce the Director of Operations and commander of the Piscium Defence Force, Commodore Fiona Marsh."

Fiona stood to much commentary as the crowd had instantly recognized her name, her notoriety having increased over the last year. She moved into the aisle near to Heyya. The same man ran up the aisle again, giving Fiona a mic of her own.

"I could just have shared Heyya's," Fiona told him with a smile.

"It's my job, ma'am," the man replied with a grin, getting a laugh from the crowd.

"Madame Chair, thank-you for allow me, a non-empath, to speak before your Grand Congress," Fiona stated for the record.

"We, at Liramor-23, have been blessed with the presence of an empath new to her powers. She has only begun to manifest them in the last few months and already she has moved beyond the capability of her Training Congress to help her.

"It is not that they cannot provide the instruction she needs; it is that this person has manifested powers of a rare strength. How strong is that you might ask?

"This morning, at breakfast time, a complaint was made to the front desk about a large Congress taking place in her hotel room, on the thirtieth floor. The complaint was directed to a Congress of fifty-plus empaths in an unshielded room. In fact, the congress consisted of six empaths, one of which is the empath we are speaking of," Fiona had to stop as the crowd was commenting about the power that had emanated that morning.

"Are you telling us that this was a new, singular empath, manifesting her power?" asked a Councillor out of turn.

The Chair banged her gavel and called for order.

"Heyya, I felt that emanation," the Chair stated. "Will you confirm what Ms. Marsh is stating as fact?"

"Yes, Madame Chair. For the record, what you felt was the power of five empaths amplified by an untrained empath," Heyya stated formally.

The Chair had to call for order again as the Grand Council exploded in turmoil.

"Ms. Marsh, please continue," the Chair pronounced shortly after restoring order.

"This empath was beginning to unconsciously manifest her powers, so it was decided to train her for her own safety and the safety of those on Liramor-23. I allowed Heyya to form a Training Congress in one of our smaller bays.

"When I say smaller, we're talking about a bay that is eighteen meters tall, almost forty meters across and over a hundred meters long. It is also shielded because of the potential work that goes on in those bays.

"They have had exactly three sessions, Madame Chair," Fiona told her. "I think I will let Heyya speak on this part for a moment, and will come back to my request shortly," Fiona said, nodding to Heyya.

"Madame Chair, we held our first Training Congress in the bay described several weeks ago. It consisted of reading emotions while in contact with another person, often referred to as contact reading.

"We then moved on to reading emotions while in indirect contact through another person. In one session, less than two hours in length, our new empath successfully completed both exercises, Madame Chair," Heyya told them, bringing more comments from the attendees.

The Chair had to call for order several times before she got it. Heyya was allowed to continue.

"The second session was an 'intimate' session in the privacy of their home, designed to break the bonds of resistance to cultural impediments and help in boosting power levels," Heyya stated. Everyone knew what she meant. "Once again, the new empath completed the task on her first attempt, Madame Chair, with some rather spectacular results.

"The third session was again held in the small bay. We had some observers there at my request as I thought that this would be a historic event. One of the observers was Fiona Marsh. Fiona, if you would," Heyya said.

"I had been invited to observe the events of the third training session," Fiona stated. "This session was to touch the minds and read the emotions of those not in contact with the empath. There were several scientists observing and myself. The minds of the observers were all slightly different but they were all scientific types. Then there was me.

"I was there to provide the new empath with the imprint of a leader, something different than that which she would see in the scientist observers or in the healers that were part of her Fellowship.

"You are probably aware of all the controversy that has occurred in and around Liramor-23 over the last few years. Since finding the evidence of aliens in the Piscium system several years ago, I have had burden after burden thrown onto my shoulders. While reading my emotions, the new empath tapped into this, and gave me her support to help lift that awful burden from me. I will be ever so grateful for what this person has done for me in that instance.

"Some of you, who work in this kind of field, will recognize what our empath has accomplished. Most of you have heard of or felt yourselves, the effects that empaths can bring to those that are in a similar situation that I had found myself in.

"I can categorically say that I will ever be in the debt of this person who helped me. She did this intuitively, with no training in this technique," Fiona let that hang in the air for a moment.

"What I need, on behalf of Liamror-23, is a Senior level Grand Master empath, to return with us to Liramor-23 and continue our empaths instruction, for her sake and for that of Liramor-23," Fiona finished.

"Point of Order," came almost instantly from one of the Councillors.

"What now?" asked the Chair, to laughter from the floor.

"Council would like Heyya to present her candidate, Madame Chair," the Councillor stated.

"Trying to take my thunder are you, Gallayea?" asked the Chair, again to laughter from the floor.

"Heyya, if you would," the Chair asked. Heyya nodded to Junelliea, who stood with her Trine.

The Trine moved into the aisle and began to walk down to the staging center where all the other members had displayed their power. As she walked, Junelliea centered herself and pulled power from all those around her.

The empaths in the crowd could feel her power building. All of the Cats, sitting on members shoulders raised their heads as they felt the emanations coming from Junelliea. Seeing this, her Trine's Cats moved up on the Trine's heads and fluffed in their dominance display, forcing all other Cats to bow to them.

Junelliea continued to pull in the power of those in the Grand Congress, including from the Councillors themselves. The Councillors in turn were shocked. For the first time ever, a single empath was collecting the empathic power of a Grand Congress of Empaths, a feat that normally took at least five powerful empaths to complete for the numbers now present.

Including the families here this day for the new inductees, there were over 800 people in the ballroom, the grand majority of them empaths of at least Full Member level in the Council.

Long before she came to the staging area, Junelliea pointed her palms upward and thought peace, calm, and mother love and pushed it out with all the power at her disposal, the entirety of this Grand Congress of Empaths.

Everyone felt the strength of the power she was channeling, even those on the periphery of the Grand Congress. Empaths in the hotel felt it, as did empaths outside the hotel. As Junelliea pushed her power outward, the entire city was wrapped in a sense of peace, calm, and love, non-empaths included.

Junelliea let her power fade, closing her hands and bowing to the Councillors and the Chair. The Trine's Cats slid back onto their shoulders and purred into their ears, recognizing that Junelliea had done something significant. There wasn't a sound from anyone in the Grand Congress of Empaths.

It was in this moment of extended silence that Junelliea thought she might have gone a tad too far...

Aereet City, Andanii District, Planet Anuura, Caiden System, Fifty-Six Light Years from Terra

The convoy was heavily guarded as it moved to the regional jail in Aereet City. The streets were heavily lined with people and nervous police guards watched wearily as the convoy moved to its objective. A few minutes later, they turned into the underground parking of the jail and the guards breathed easier.

The door slid open and the lone occupant of the van was moved out and into the jail proper, stooped over from having his hands and feet bound together with short chains to prevent any opportunity of escape.

Wassim Andjuran had come home to Anuura after his trial on Terra. The man had been charged with the murder of a Senator, conspiracy to commit murder, with interfering with the proper running of Senate institutions, theft and graft from Senate Institutions -- specifically the Humanitarian Resources and Refugee Committee, money laundering, and the bribery and blackmail of Senate officials, including Senators.

He was also charged with running a criminal organization from Senate Offices and providing intelligence to known criminal organizations, including the Pirate Syndicates, that resulted in the known deaths of Union Citizens and the capture and enslavement of potentially thousands of free Union Citizens.

There had been over two hundred charges that had been placed against Wassim Andjuran. He had been found guilty on all of them. Fifty of the charges included the death sentence as penalty but he could only die once.

Now, Wassim Andjuran was on Anuura to face additional charges for his crimes on this world, crimes which also included murder. However, Wassim still had a base of support on Anuura, much to the surprise of the IPPF.

"It's not going to be a pleasant thing, tomorrow's trial," C. Supt. Faarooq Burhan of the Anuuran IPPF said of his counterpart in the local law enforcement.

"Yes, there are too many of his associates still at large," agreed C. Cst. Azmi Hafeez, the Chief Constable of Aereet City. "We will constantly be looking over our shoulders watching the crowd during this trial.

"We are pushing for support from the community but the people of the Church of Andanii still fear Andjuran and his clique, despite our attempts to break his hold over the Church," Azmi sadly admitted.

"What do you think will happen?" Faarooq asked.

"They will likely try to break him out tonight or tomorrow before the trail," Azmi told him. "Once the trial begins, public sentiment will quickly turn against Andjuran, especially now that he does not have access to funds."

"So, large presence tonight, then we can start breaking that down little by little over the course of the trial?" Faarooq inquired.

"Yes, but we are going to be short handed no matter what we do," Azmi told him. "We need to buff up our patrol presence during this entire trial, and I am at a loss as to how to do that," Azmi told him.

"I can help there," Faarooq told him with a smile. He opened the door and a dozen men and women of Hollander's World came into the room. "These are all empaths working in security on Anuura for the last few years. I've co-opted them into our ranks for the duration of the trial. There will be at least one of them with each patrol you send out and two of them at the courthouse with Andjuran's transport team during the trial.

"They will be able to sense hostility towards us and react to it before the opposition can," he explained to Azmi with a sinister smile.

Azmi's own smile grew as he caught on to what he had just been handed...

Samaya Hotel, Scherm's City, Hollander's World, Sullivan System

The night before the Council of Empaths had been working hard to quell the disturbance that Junelliea had inadvertently caused. They thought they had taken care of everything until they received a call from the Mayor of Scherm's City.

Having been told he would be there just after breakfast, Junelliea's group had dressed in their best, including all the medals they had earned. Of all the members of her Training Congress and Trine, only Junelliea and Anaya did not have medals. The power radiating from Junelliea at that moment, however, told everyone that here was a very powerful figure.

Along with them were the Councillors of this Grand Congress of Empaths, including the very formidable Chair Petronellaya, old Greek for 'stone'.

The Mayor came in with several police officers and abruptly came to a stop when he saw all the high level people in the Trine's hotel room.

"What is this," he snapped at the Chair of the Grand Congress of Empaths, giving her a look of distain.

"What is it you want, Mr. Mayor, your note did not say anything of significance," Madame Chair stated.

"Yesterday, during the Grand Council of Empaths, a significant event took place in Scherm's City," the Mayor sneered. "It if forbidden for any Congress to attempt to influence any political discussions without the express permission of all the members of the political factions involved. This is to prevent manipulation of politics on this planet."

"We are aware of the law, Mr. Mayor," the Chair chided. "It is the Council of Empaths that enacted it. What do you want, Mr. Mayor?"

"You attempted to influence a political discussion during your Congress," the Mayor snapped in reply. "I want you charged with political interference."

The glee on his face disturbed Junelliea, who gently looked into his emotions. She was momentarily blocked from doing that but swiftly found a way around the block. The man had been trying to find ways to curtail the powers of the Council for years. He was not happy with being just the mayor of Scherm's City and wanted to run for higher office, most likely the Presidency of Hollander's World but knew he would never be accepted by the Council. Junelliea knew why. The man was a sleazeball, more importantly, he was a crook.

Junelliea noted the device he was wearing on his head and wondered if that blocked other empaths from reading his emotions. Junelliea's empathic powers had not developed like those on Hollander's World, which was why, she thought, she could read his emotions.

Junelliea hugged Faya, whispering to him. He understood that she didn't like this little man. Something about the Mayor reminded him of Wassim Andjuran. The thought made him like the man even less.

"Mr. Mayor, are you aware of when Grand Councils are held in your city?" Fayad asked.

"Who the fuck are you to talk to me?" the Mayor snapped.

"This man is Fayad Piscium, the Deputy Director of Liramor-23, and personally decorated by the President of Liramor Prime, Marcel Lapierre, and the President of the Terran Union Wilford J. Holloway! He is also my direct subordinate," Fiona snapped at the man. "That's who the fuck he is, now answer the question!"

"I don't have to answer any questions that you people put to me in this room," the Mayor snapped.

"That would be incorrect, Mr. Mayor," the Chair replied. "This hotel is under the jurisdiction of the Council of Empaths for the duration of the Grand Congress of Empaths and you, as a citizen of this planet and a representative of the people of Scherm's City, are subject to the Council's laws in this location.

"Now, Mr. Mayor, answer the question," the Chair snapped.

"Yes, I am aware whenever a Grand Congress is being held in my city!" he replied, rather testily.

"Then why are you conducting city business at a time when so many empaths are in and around your city if you do not want them to interfere?" Fayad asked.

"Are you looking for an opportunity, no matter how small, to charge the Council of Empaths with political interference?" Fayad demanded rather forcefully.

"Of course not!" the Mayor replied, but Fayad could see from his body language that he had scored a major point. Fayea keened softly into Fayad's ear. The note was not pleasant but was made discreetly by his Cat. Fayad realised that Fayea could read the Mayor as well, he had his own personal lie detector sitting on his shoulder!

"You're lying, Mr. Mayor," Fayad said.

"Arrest this man for using empathy on me without my consent!" the Mayor snarled, pointing to two of the police officers with him who began to advance on Fayad.

"But I am not an empath, Mr. Mayor," Fayad responded. "So I could not be using empathy on you. Besides, I suspect the device on your head is designed to stop the empaths of Hollander's World from reading your emotions, Mr. Mayor, so how could I?

"What I am reading is your body language, Mr. Mayor. It is a skill that any good police officer has," Fayad told him, leaving that fact he was not a police officer off the table.

The two police officers stopped for a moment and looked back at the Mayor.

"He's lying!" the Mayor shouted.

"He is not," Madame Chair informed them all. "Fayad and Hanalei both are non-empaths," she informed the newcomers, pointing out each person as she spoke.

"You expect me to believe that, when they have obviously bonded with Cats?" the Mayor chortled. "Next you will say that the Council was not involved in yesterday's incident."

"Actually, the Council of Empaths WAS NOT involved in this incident, Mr. Mayor," Madame Chair confirmed him with a smile.

"You dare to lie to me to my face, Madame Chair," he snarled moving toward the group.

Instantly, the three Cats in the room raised their heads and hissed loudly at the Mayor, who suddenly backed away.

"Now you are threaten me with your Cats?" the Mayor said, nervous but also happy that the empaths had attempted something.

"Actually, our Cats are attempting to protect our Trine and our friends from your rather unreasonable stance, Mr. Mayor," Fayad explained, using his 'voice of authority'. "Remember, sir, I am not reading your emotions as an empath; I am reading your body language. You cannot hide your lies from me. More importantly, you cannot hide your lies or your aggression from our Cats, Mr. Mayor," Fayad explained, his voice of authority rising as he spoke.

Fayad began quoting laws and statutes of Union Law to the Mayor from memory informing the Mayor that he had broken at least three separate Union Laws and four separate statues with his baseless accusations.