All That Glitters Ch. 41

The status of all had now formally changed, with all recognized by one status, member of the Landstradt.

The Chair called for order. "Inquisitor Harold has arrived. We will have him answer questions from the floor. As the new seating arrangement has not be emplaced, we ask for your indulgence during questioning. Please allow those speaking to finish their questions or comments prior to rising to seek permission to speak.

"Bring in Inquisitor Harold," the Chair thundered. The man strode calmly to stand before the Landstradt and bowed to the members.

"Inquisitor Harold, you did not show up this morning for questions of this council during a trial of the prisoners recently under your control," the Chair spoke.

"Chair, I cannot officially stand before this council as I am an appointed Officer of the Law. This council does not have status to conduct a criminal trial. My capacity here, now, is unofficial," Harold spoke.

With a smile, Aurelia rose. "The Chair recognizes Lady Adenomere."

"Thank-you, Chair. Inquisitor Harold, am I led to believe that you condoned a gang rape event with one of your prisoners?" she asked.

"No, Lady Adenomere, I did not," Harold replied. "Once I was made aware of the incident I took action to discover what had occurred. It appears that the Prison Warden was selling options to the younger sons of Landstradt Houses to assist in the rape of prisoners as part of their 'softening up' during their interrogation process. This has, apparently, been going on for some time. This is something that I do not condone, Lady Adenomere."

"Do you expect me to believe that you, an Inquisitor, have a conscience, Inquisitor Harold" Aurelia asked.

"Lady Adenomere, I have four children. All of them are daughters," Harold replied. "I do not use rape as part of my interrogations, even though the method is recommended for breaking certain prisoners.

"The Warden, unlike myself, has used the technique on many occasions. He is a qualified interrogator.

"The selling of the duties to prison outsiders, however, is in contravention of Adenomere Law and Hollern Prison regulations, as is paying for the privilege to conduct a rape," Harold finished.

As he finished speaking, Jorge Devine walked down the aisle toward the space in front of the Chair.

"Ah, Master Jorge. I predict your presence here is in connection to this incident?" the Chair demanded.

"It is, Chair," Jorge replied. "Once Inquisitor Harold made the Attorney General's Office aware of the ongoing situation, we took the Warden of Hollern Prison into custody. He was quite forthcoming on the incident in question.

"The Warden has been charged with prostituting prisoners under his care, while I have warrants for the arrest of the six remaining sons of House Adenomere, all charged with rape, paying for the privilege to conduct rape and, in one case, attempted murder.

"I have here warrants for the arrest of Aedan Adenomere, Caedmon Adenomere, Fabian Adenomere, Lucius Adenomere, and Nathanial Adenomere, on charges of rape and paying for the privilege of rape.

"I also have a warrant for the arrest of Adolphus Adenomere on the same charges as well as for attempted murder," Jorge stated.

"I was defending myself!" Adolphus shouted out.

"The act of attempted murder while conducting an offence under the criminal code means that if this person dies, you will be charged with Second Degree Murder. That that person was a prisoner, under the control of the law when you injured her, means that the charge of Second Degree Murder will be listed as a Capital Offence," Jorge returned. "You had best hope that this person survives, Adolphus Adenomere. Take these men away."

Aurelia leaned over to Korman. "Mr. Korman, contact all the wives of the Adenomere houses and have them meet us in the same restaurant we used yesterday, please."

Korman nodded and immediately opened his comp to contact his counterparts in the other branches of the Adenomere family, arranging for their noon meeting. He then contacted the restaurant and asked for a private room with the required seating.

As the Adenomere men were being taken away, the Chair once again took control of the Landstradt. "Gentlemen, and Ladies, it is now 11:00 hrs. I recommend that we take an extended lunch until 13:00 hrs while the Landstradt is reconfigured. We can expect to see the Union Ambassador this afternoon.

"Inquisitor Harold, I would ask for your presence this afternoon, official or not," the Chair ordered, getting a nod from the Inquisitor.

Aurelia met up with her four female friends and the ladies of House Adenomere. Lady Gordon, Lady Pendar, and Lady Palay made their presence known. "I think you may need our assistance, Lady Adenomere," they announced.

Aurelia smiled and accepted their presence and headed off to the restaurant.

************

"Madame Wilhelmina, Madame Karolina, wives of the Adenomere household," Aurelia began later at the restaurant. "I know you are currently reeling from all that has occurred within House Adenomere, and the revelations of the actions of your respective husbands. However, we must act in concert if we are to retain control over House Adenomere. There is no doubt in my mind that those who despise Jaar Adenomere and his brothers are now deliberating actions against our house. They are undoubtedly making plans to break the house and take portions of it for themselves, in the same manner as House Yunki was broken.

"We ladies must take control over our House's destiny or lose all that we currently control. I need to know which of you have any skills in household management, business management, the management of slaves, and other functions," she asked.

Fortunately, though they lacked practical experience, the ladies were not completely incompetent in the various management fields. Where one lady was deficient in one or more aspects of management, other ladies of House Adenomere could come to assist.

Aurelia coordinated the efforts of the combined house branches to ensure the safety of the ladies and their children. Heirs were determined for each branch except the main house, as Aurelia had no children of her own at this time.

"Did you spend any time with Marius?" asked Wilhelmina of Aurelia. Loath to inform them otherwise, Aurelia told the women present that she and Marius had relations on a couple of occasions in the last week.

Lady Handren, Lady Marshal, Lady Gordon, Lady Palay, and Lady Pendar were of great help in organizing the house's situation. Aurelia was quick to group the house finances and set up a method of control over it so that she could move funds around to support the separate branches and the house as a whole. She knew that she would be busy fairly soon. By the time that the extended lunch ended, they were as ready as they could be. They returned to the Landstradt, ready for action.

The floor had been reconfigured. The members looked up to the large monitor on the left, which had the new placement of all the Houses on it. They quickly found their new locations. House Yunki's new location was two rows back from House Adenomere.

As soon as everyone was seated, the action began...

"Chair, I would ask for a review of House Adenomere," Richard Harsens, Patriarch of House Harsens and a man who despised House Adenomere demanded. Aurelia rose.

"Chair, Master Harsens has no business requesting for a review of House Adenomere," Aurelia let the Chair know. "House Harsens owes House Adenomere, so I am sure that he simply wishes to find a means to get out of some of his obligations."

That brought a trickle of laughter from around the Landstradt. "However, as an aside, House Adenomere currently lists business assets in access of 700 billion with available funds of more than 100 billion, not including those in Union banks already confiscated by the Union and those funds that are slated to be returned to House Yunki. Nor does this include funds owed to House Adenomere from House Harsens and other Houses of the Landstradt, which have not yet been received.

"Despite the losses of slaves incurred by House Adenomere, we are in good condition as we have recently purchased farm equipment for large scale farm production. We are ready and able to meet our production schedule this year, unlike many of the members of the Landstradt."

"Chair, there are no men in charge of House Adenomere!" Harsens called out, feigning shock.

"Ah, now we have the crux of the problem," Aurelia replied. "There are suddenly too many houses without men at the helm, causing worry around the membership.

"Are you worried your wife will depose you and take over your House Master Harsens?" Aurelia derided him.

Angry, Harsens rose to return comments when the Chair shouted him down.

"ENOUGH!! Lady Aurelia is correct. House Harsens has no place to demand a review of House Adenomere. I saw the list of available funds and the list of those who owe House Adenomere yesterday when Lady Adenomere gave the Chair the copy of the agreements between House Gordon, House Palay, and House Pendame. I did note that your House owes considerable funds to House Adenomere, Master Harsens.

"How much you owe is between you and House Adenomere, but I will not tolerate any more implied comments about the capability of women to lead a House. They have already shown their competence, especially Lady Adenomere. Stand down Master Harsens or be censored in the Landstradt," the Chair ordered.

Harsens sat down, grumbling.

The Comms Tech flagged the Chair.

"Sir, there is a strange ship in orbit requesting permission to land. They claim to have the Union Ambassador abord."

"Put it on the screen," the Chair ordered.

Immediately an image of a small ship appeared on the monitor. From the image, it was apparent that this was somebody's personal yacht.

"Chair, we are receiving a request to speak to you," the Comms Tech indicated. The Chair nodded. An image of a very beautiful young woman appeared on the monitor, a strange animal riding her shoulder.

"Good afternoon, do I have the privilege to address the Chair of the Landstradt?" she asked.

"You do," the Chair replied. "Forgive me, however, I do not recognize you, madame."

"Of course, I am Junelliya Harlen. This is my husband, Fayad Piscium." The image widened showing a handsome man sitting on her right. "We are aboard my family ship, PV The Trine, Capt. Marissa Bellany commanding.

"We are carrying Ambassador Flynet to the Landstradt as requested by you yesterday. The Union has given us temporary status as a diplomatic courier." Here the image expanded again, showing the Ambassador on her left.

"We request permission to land at Landstradt HQ, for the Ambassador's session," the woman requested.

"You have permission to attend the session," the Chair replied.

"Very well, we shall be at the Landstradt in ten minutes," Junelliya advised, her image disappearing.

The ship reappeared on the screen. That is when someone noted that it had no vanes. She ship dropped swiftly from the camera's view and a radar image came up on the left-hand monitor to show her descending with speed into the atmosphere. As it reached a certain height, it slowed abruptly falling under Mach to avoid a sonic boom reaching the ground.

The ship retained its speed, staying just under Mach until it reached 1,000 meters, when it again slowed significantly. However, it did not veer toward the shuttle port, instead it continued down to the Landstradt itself, landing to the right of the building.

External cameras snapped on showing the ship as it touched down, a probe descending to touch the ground, the flash of a strong static discharge jumping to the ground from the probe. Local Militia quickly surrounded the ship just as the hatch opened and five people stepped out.

Junelliya and her husband marched down the ramp holding hands. Behind them came a familiar figure, Kim the bodyguard whose image was well known to all as Liam Handren had placed the vid or her fight with Hamden Colden, the former New Hadrian Division Champion of the Death Games, on the New Hadria web. Instantly recognized by her twin, green swords at her side, she strode down the ramp behind the pair.

Behind Kim came Ambassador Flynet and a short, attractive woman in medical whites. Junelliya smiled and nodded to the guards as they marched quickly to the Landstradt's door, showing no fear. She entered the door and the membership got their first direct look at the woman.

Junelliya was wearing a cream-coloured, form-fitting, long dress, with sleeves that ended almost at her elbows. Zippers made a half circle around each breast, starting at her neck and ending near her armpit. The women of the Alliance had never seen such a dress and wondered if it was a new fashion statement from the Union.

Under her left breast was a symbol that the membership recognized, the Council of Empaths. At her right elbow was a green armband with a strange, bright red symbol on it, Ɵ~Ɵ.

The five marched down the aisle toward the space in front of the Chair. Guards suddenly snapped to attention and moved to block them, some pulled weapons and threatened the small group. Junelliya waved her hand and all the guards who had made threats or threatening gestures with their weapons suddenly dropped to the floor. Shocked silence filled the Landstradt.

"You need not worry," Junelliya addressed the Landstradt quietly. "They are only asleep. They will wake up in an hour or so, or sooner if I allow it."

"Was that necessary?" the Chair asked.

"They were starting to get nervous. Nervous people make mistakes. Nervous people with weapons can make fatal mistakes. It was better that they rested," Junelliya replied.

"Your badge indicates you are a member of the Council of Empaths," the Chair noted.

"Yes, however, I am no ordinary member," Junelliya advised. "I am what you would call a Grand Master Empath. GME's rarely leave Hollander's World. When they do, they do so for specific tasks.

"My task is to be this man's wife," Junelliya explained, giving Fayad a loving look and leaning over to kiss his cheek. He grinned at her.

"I understand that Scherm's Cats did not leave Hollander's World," the Chair commented, noting the two Cats riding the shoulders of Junelliya and Fayad.

"That is normally true, however, I am an exceptional empath," Junelliya replied.

No one disputed that comment after having witnessed her actions against the guards.

Junelliya once more waved her hand and the sleeping guards slowly began to wake. "Please holster you weapons and make no further threatening moves," she told them with a gentle smile, pushing peace to them.

The guards looked at the Chair, who nodded. They holstered their weapons and sheepishly stood back.

"That was a significant demonstration," the Chair commented.

"Unfortunately, a necessary one," Junelliya replied. "We bring you Ambassador Flynet to your summons. However, before he speaks to this Landstradt, we ask that our doctor be allowed to examine the prisoners you had on trial this morning."

"You are in no position to make demands of the Landstradt, young lady," the Chair returned.

"Actually, I am," Junelliya returned calmly. There was no rancor in her voice, no anger or tension, but the members of the Landstradt noted the implied threat.

The Chair looked around the Landstradt, the membership avoiding his eyes. The decision was his. He snorted a laugh and nodded to the guards, who brought in the prisoners.

They stood naked before the Landstradt, with one of them carried in on a gurney. Junelliya's anger flared as she noted the injuries on them. She looked up into the eyes of her friend.

"Raymond," she said with a simple nod.

"It is good to see you Junelliya, Fayad, Kim, Ayesha, and you too, Ambassador." Raymond responded.

Ayesha came forward and swiftly ran a medical sensor over the bodies of the five standing prisoners. Junelliya walked over to Sgt. Wilder and placed her hand on her head. She closed her eyes and tried to contact the woman. A few moments later she raised her hand.

"She is alive and aware of what is going on, though she has no connection to her body. The stunner's effects on her brain damaged her mental access to the voluntary control of her body. I do not believe that I can help her," Junelliya reported.

"Chair, on my ship, there are experts that might be able to help Sgt. Wilder. However, these experts are not human, they are Toolend," Junelliya advised.

"Toolend?" the Chair asked, confused.

Junelliya called up an image of a Toolend and sent it to the monitor. She heard the collective gasp of the Landstradt at the image on the monitor.

"Despite their fearsome appearance, the Toolend are not an aggressive species though they will protect themselves if provoked. They are telepathic, and have the ability to read minds, even at a distance. They might be able to help Sgt. Wilder reconnect her mind to her body. If they cannot do this, then Sgt. Wilder will slowly die. Please allow them to attempt to save Sgt. Wilder," Junelliya asked.

"They are telepathic?" someone from the floor asked.

"The two Toolend are members of the Order of Telepaths, similar to the Council of Empaths. They have strict guidelines they follow on the use of their telepathy when they are outside of Toolend space, in the same manner that members of the Council of Empaths are bound to the regulations of the Council. You have nothing to fear from them unless you threaten them," Junelliya explained.

"May I?" Junelliya asked, raising her comp. The Chair nodded.

Junelliya connected to Tougrate and threw his image up onto the monitor.

"Hello, Tougrate, have you been following what is going on?" she asked.

"Of course, Junelliya. The media images here are quite good." Junelliya smiled at that.

"I would ask the Chair to give permission for this person and erht's aid to examine Sgt. Wilder, will the Chair allow that?" Junelliya asked.

"Erht?" the Chair asked, confused.

"The Toolend do not have sexes in the same manner that humans do. They can be either the male or the female of the species as required. 'Erht' replaces pronouns such as him or her," Junelliya pronounced.

"Very well," the Chair responded. "I will give permission for this pair to examine the prisoner. Please refrain from using telepathy on any other person in the Landstradt."

"That is understood, Chair," Tougrate replied. "Our laws are very specific on when we can and cannot use our telepathy. We may only use our skills when given permission by the law, by a medical professional, when someone gives us personal permission, or for self defence. So long as you do not threaten us, we will not use our telepathy on you."

The image faded and the cameras focused once more on the ship outside the Landstradt. The hatch opened and two Toolend descended to the ground, initially surprising the guards there. They made their way into the Landstradt building.

The members of the Landstradt were eagerly craning their necks to see their first real aliens. If the Toolend were upset by this, they did not show it.

While they looked like ancient Terran Cephalopods, their heads were not malleable, being much more rigid in nature. Still, they could flatten their heads somewhat and pass through a portal slimmer than most humans could.

The Toolend 'walked' on ten tentacles that they could use alternately as feet or hands. At the moment, they were walking on six tentacles, while four others were being flicked about as hands.

They were taller than humans, reaching nearly 250cm in height, though almost sixty-five percent of that height was in their tentacles. By stretching out their tentacles, they could reduce their height to almost 165cm, the height of their heads, though the members of the Landstradt didn't know this fact.