The Rebel Faction

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“Very well, but watch how you act.” Asri warned to his retreating back. “I was spying on you because your recent actions made it suggest that you had turned against us, so keep that in mind.” Asri then went to track down both Trazu and Lavality, to let them know that Maskis was in the clear.

At manor Trazu could only nod in agreement. “If you don’t mind I would like to assist in their interrogation.” He said. “If ‘normal’ methods don’t reveal anything, my abilities with the Force may.”

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“Did you find him?” Trazu asked Asri when he saw her.

“I did and I’ve determined his actions were simply for the purpose of Lavality’s protection.” Asri replied.

Trazu raised a brow at that: he could tell she wasn’t telling him everything. “So was I right that he knew more then what he let on?”

The albino nodded. “He wouldn’t reveal exactly what, but he hinted that what he knew could make Lavality question her ability to lead and that he wouldn’t reveal it because they need her. Understandable in my opinion, but it worries me that what damning secrets could still be hidden about the poor girl.”

“I have a feeling we will find out in time.” Trazu said with a sigh.

Meanwhile, now that the threat had passed, Varcanna was tracking down a certain someone she wanted to make amends with. Finding him was not easy though as he had been reclusive ever since she rejected him. She did eventually find him though in his room: the door was open so she just let herself in. When she entered she heard the unmistakable sound of a hyprospray being used and it came from the bedroom. Varcanna waited patiently and after a couple of minutes Silliss came out and he looked surprised to see her there.

“Varca….” He said surprised, but then turned serious. “Don’t you know how to knock?”

“You left your door open.” Varca retorted, gesturing to the door.

“So I did…” Silliss said with a sigh. “What do you want?”

Varcanna looked at the ground, the words she wanted to say suddenly leaving her and it took a moment to find them. “I wanted to apologize…”

“For what?”

“For how I treated you.” She said. “I should have known better not to be so judgmental, considering the ‘freaks’ in my own family.”

“There’s nothing for you to apologize for.” Silliss said with a sigh. “I’m the one that needs to apologize: I should have been completely honest with you from the start.”

“Silliss, I would have reacted the same way.” Varcanna insisted. “Simply because I was insecure with my own ‘problem’.”

This made him tilt his head and raise a brow at her with puzzlement. “Your own problem? You mean your sterility?” He asked.

“No it’s something else.” Varcanna sighed. “I’ve been in denial all this time about my…bisexuality.”

Silliss physically drew back in shock, but recovered quickly. “I can see why you wanted to keep that buried…” He muttered. “There’s some T’Doshok out there what would kill people like that. What made you realize that you were bi?”

“When I realized that I was attracted to Lady Asri.” Varcanna confessed.

Silliss blinked, then chuckled. “So we have a similar interest in women then.” He said.

“Huh? You mean….”

“Lady Asri is a very attractive female in many ways.” Silliss said with a slight sheepish grin. “Pity too many T’Doshok only see her for the color of her scales. But since Lord Trazu clearly had his eyes on her I kept it at a friendship type level. If he hadn’t I certainly would have attempted to woo her, especially after our little ‘fallout’.”

Varcanna was crushed. “So you don’t think we can make it work?”

Another raised brow. “Varca, you were always my first choice, but after our fight I wasn’t sure you’d be willing to be with a ‘diseased freak’.”

“You’re not a diseased freak Silliss!” Varcanna cried. “I was wrong to call you that…you can’t help how you are…just like I can’t help how I am. I…I want to try us again….”

To that Silliss simply smiled.

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Varcanna and Silliss were sitting on his bed now, talking about various things. At one point Varcanna noticed a medical style bag on the floor and she could see part of a hyprospray in it. “That bag must have the medicine you use to suppress the virus…”

“Yes…” Silliss said quietly. “Depending on what it is, I have to take it anywhere from once a day to once a week. Right now it’s an every three day kind.”

“Why the variation?”

“I miss a dose for any reason, it becomes resistant to that medication.” Silliss said bitterly. “It’s only happened a few times thankfully, and only due to circumstances beyond my control. Still, even with the medication, my immune system is weakened.”

“Hence the need for blood transfusions.” Varcanna said with a slow nod.

“Yes. The blood transfusions give me the anti bodies I need to fight off common ailments, but they also provide the doctors with fresh samples of the virus so they can continue to develop new treatments, if not finally find a cure.”

“After all these years I’m surprised they hadn’t found a cure, especially with all the advances through the galaxy.”

Silliss was silent a moment before speaking again. “Well…there’s a scary possibility: that this virus was engineered specifically to attack me, thus that could be why it’s so difficult to cure.”

Varcanna visibly recoiled. “You mean…this could have been deliberate…”

“There was little question in father’s and my minds that this was deliberate, just the level of sophistication behind it….”

“But why would anyone do this?”

“We don’t know. We think my mother’s family had a hand in it, but if it does turn out this virus is engineered specifically to me, that would mean someone else is responsible. Who…only time will tell I guess…”

***

Meanwhile Trazu and Asri saw Lavality leave the room: obviously Lavality ended up having to let the warriors do some ‘tenderizing’.

“No luck I take it.” Trazu said. When Lavality shook her head he added. “My people are physically strong and very stubborn, I doubt a beating will get what you need out of him.” He thought a moment. “If you are not willing to use the Force, perhaps getting a ‘few’ in him will help loosen his lips: we do have some strong brews on the ground.”

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Trazu nodded and motioned a Keshir over. “Get some of the strongest brews from the bar and bring them here.” The Keshir nodded and ran off. After a short wait, the Keshir returned with a crate of brew. Just then the two warriors came out, looking a bit frustrated.

“Lord Trazu, this man just won’t talk.” One of the complained. “All we did was make him bleed and make us frustrated. Do you think you can use the Force on him?”

“Lavality specifically didn’t want the Force used in this.“ Trazu said. “But…there are other ways to get a man to talk.” He pointed out the crate.

“A good idea my Lord, but I doubt by now the man would be willing to have a drink….”

“My Lord.” The Keshir spoke up. “Perhaps he would be more willing if a less…’threatening’ individual did the offering?”

Trazu studied the lower ranking Clan member and saw a lot of confidence in his eyes. “Very well, but take care not to make him so drunk he would be useless. The moment you feel he is most ‘cooperative’, let me know and I’ll get Lavality.

“Aye sir.” The Keshir picked up the crate again and entered the room.

“You know love…having the kids have a go at him may be effective as well.” Asri suggested with a chuckle.

“I’d rather not.” Trazu said. “Though restrained he could harm them and I don’t want to take that chance.”

“I guess you’re right.” Asri said with a sigh. “Still, when she goes to interrogate the one the kids had fun with I bet she could threaten to sic them on him again.”

“He did look very demoralized didn’t he?” Trazu said, chuckling.

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“So if this virus is engineered specifically to you…then why the ‘hesitation’.” Varcanna said, referring to the incident that caused their break up in the first place.

“Because it hasn’t be proven yet.” Silliss said with a sigh. “And the docs are understandably hesitant to try to infect test subjects with this thing.
Since I’m the only known case they only have my samples to work with.”

“It could be that other victims were ‘culled’.” Varcanna said with a faint growl.

“It’s a possibility, but unless another case turns up with the exact same virus it’s a safe assumption it’s an engineered virus. One that could mutate into an untreatable and possibly far more contagious version at any time.”

“Why would someone risk causing an epidemic?”

“They probably thought I’d be dead by now.” Silliss muttered. “I know I nearly joined the ancestors a couple of times already. If they know I’m alive it makes me wonder why they haven’t tried to finish me off yet. I have a strange feeling though that they are just bidding their time….”

***

By the interrogation room the Keshir finally came out. “He’s ready.” The man said. “Took a while to get him to trust me enough to accept it though:
had to tell some colorful lies.”

“Good work. I’ll go find Lavality.” Trazu said as he left, Asri opting to stay by the door in case the prisoner decided to make a break for it.

Trazu quickly spotted the girl by the front gates, looking a bit down. “Lavality.” Trazu said softly to get her attention. “The prisoner is ready.”

***

Meanwhile Rissonik and Naosha were discussing some issues when a Keshir politely knocked and handed them a news report that had just come out. “I know I am Speaker Above All.” Naosha muttered as she read the bulletin.
“But why do I need to know about the deaths of two minor nobles?”

“There’s are no ordinary minor nobles….” Rissonik said, his voice grave.
“And these can’t be ‘ordinary’ deaths…”

Naosha blinked, then reread the report. “Different causes…but at almost the same time.” She said. “Coincidence?”

“I think not.” Rissonik growled. “I have a feeling the investigation will find it was assassination.”

“But who would kill two minor nobles? Who had little impact on the government?” Naosha said, still not getting the significance.

“Someone who wanted to get at a certain Vice Admiral.” Rissonik snarled. “These two minor nobles were Tiosk’s younger sons.”