The Lexal Affair, DM Arnold [i wanna iguana read aloud .TXT] 📗

from sight two and a half Floran years ago.”

“His disappearance would coincide with Zander's stay on Earth.”

“Well, Vadima certainly was not acting as Mykko's agent. Mykko wouldn't have anything to do with Zander or any other Baxa.”

“Kronta is convinced the weapons shipments came here. If they weren't for your forces, the only other explanations would be for someone else on Lexal, or that Lexal was a transshipment point.”

“That's a question I can't answer.”

“Then tell me about your weapons program.”

“Our firearms technology was invented here. It is based on material pre- dating PlanetFall, but that's all in the public domain. When Mykko authorized the creation of our defense lab, he insisted we follow both the spirit and the letter of our colonial charter.”

“Then, none of your technology came from the Defense Research Labs?”

“No --none from the DRL or from any other off-colony source. I can take you to meet our arms-master and permit you to inspect our armory, and to see our research and development facilities. That may convince you our arms program is completely native to this planet.”

“I need no convincing. If you tell me that's the case, I believe it. We are friends-for-life.”

Janna smiled at him. “Thank you, Nyk.”

“But, Kronta is neither your nor my friend-for-life. He may need convincing. And he may need evidence strong enough to convince the committee.”

“Come with me -- I'll introduce you to our arms master.”

Daya entered carrying a portable vidisplay. “Princess, I have your afternoon schedule.”

“Daya, please clear my schedule for the rest of the day. Transmit my regrets, but this is infinitely more important.”

“Yes, Princess.” Daya snapped her head and left the chamber.

Nyk returned with Janna to her chambers carrying a datacel. “Photoimages, mechanical drawings, R&D documents. This should be enough to convince Kronta your weapons development is indeed original and within the colonial charter. I'll transmit this to him immediately.”

“Very good, Nyk. Now, were you serious about taking Andra home with you?”

“I have been instructed to bring Andra home with me -- for her safety.”

“I assure you, Nykkyo, that she's safe and welcome here. If she wishes to return to Floran with you, that's her affair. I'd be sorry to see her go. At any rate, the next outbound packet will be tomorrow, so you must accept my hospitality for at least one night.” Janna passed her hand over a proximity pad. Daya reappeared. “Daya, please show Nykkyo to his guestroom. Give him the one adjacent to Andra's.” Daya snapped a bow and led Nykkyo down a corridor.

He sat at the vidisplay in his guestroom, inserted the datacel containing his high- security comm cipher, and placed a call to Kronta. “I've seen no evidence of any offworld arms technology in the hands of Wygann's forces,” Nyk reported. “Also, I've seen no evidence of beam weapons -- only firearms of Lexalese design and manufacture.”

“Do you have any idea where the material might have gone?”

“None so far. I do have documentation supporting Janna's claim their program is defensive and self-contained. Wygann has operated within his legal rights. I might not agree with what he has done, but I believe he was within his rights to do it. When Wygann started his defense program, he insisted his researchers avoid even the appearance of employing prohibited technology. For example, he forbid his researchers from using self-oxidized explosives to propel projectiles.”

“What does that mean?”

“He forbid them using gunpowder, Illya -- since gunpowder is an Earth technology. You won't find it on Lexal. I also have an inventory of all the guns produced by Wygann's armory and where they're deployed -- hardly enough to equip an invasion force. It's all in this documentation. I'll transmit it to you but only under the condition that it remain confidential and that it is to be destroyed after your committee has had a chance to review it.”

“So agreed.”

Nyk inserted the datacel and began transmitting the documentation.

“I'll review this. I'm planning on recommending the committee to leave Wygann alone. Do you see, Nyk? Your access to the palace paid off.”

“And Andra?”

“This appears to let her off the hook.”

“You'll stick to our bargain?”

“Yes, Nyk -- barring any new developments, we'll cease investigating Andra. What are your plans?”

“We've missed today's outbound packet. We have two seats reserved on tomorrow's flight, so I'm spending the night as Janna's guest.”

“Lucky you. I'm beginning to think your protestations about this mission were specious.”

“Good night, Illya.” The vidphone display went dark.

Nyk pressed the doorchime on Andra's door. “Come in,” she said. He walked in. “Nyk! What are you doing here?” He put his hands on her waist and looked deeply into her eyes. “What's the matter? Nykkyo, what's wrong?”

He held her and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Kronta is wrong,” he said as he stroked her hair.

“Wrong about what?”

“About you -- about Lexal. I was sent here to bring you home -- under the pretense of guarding your safety. There are rumors of trouble brewing here. But -- the real reason was to turn you over to Internal Affairs for an interview.”

“Do they still question my role?”

“The authorities aren't interested in the truth -- they want a collar -- finding someone they can charge and make it stick.”

“If that's what it takes to clear my name, I'll go -- I'll submit to truth drug. I have nothing to fear.” She stroked a tear from his face. “My friend-for-life.” She kissed his cheek.

“I couldn't betray you.”

“The rumors are right about trouble brewing. Security is much tighter than when I first arrived. Everyone's on edge, and Janna won't let me leave the palace. I don't like it.”

“Well, we're set for transport on tomorrow's early outbound packet. How do you like the lifestyle of a princess?”

“Give me that house in Sudal. That's a palace that's more than big enough for me.”

Nyk heard the doorchime. “Come.”

The door opened and he saw Daya. “Please follow me for dinner.”

Nyk motioned for Andra to precede him and they went into the chancellor's private dining room. Daya motioned them to sit at a large, round table. Janna entered with her husband.

Mykko Wygann was a compact, well-groomed man with a presence reminding Nyk of Suki's father. Nyk thought he looked to be about sixty-five Floran years -- old enough to be Janna's father.

“Please, don't stand,” Wygann said. “Nykkyo, Janna has told me of your conversation. Thank you for your help. Believe me, making this palace an armed stronghold was never our intention -- it's for the safety of my staff and family. We're hoping to be able to relax a bit, once we've neutralized Zygon Vellod's faction.”

“Chancellor,” Nyk said, “would you explain why Vellod is so antagonistic toward your administration?”

“Please, call me Mykko. We're all friends here, are we not? Zygon Vellod was a long- standing chancellor here. He was, in fact, my mentor. We came to disagree over the direction of this colony. Vellod saw Lexal as an agrarian economy -- combined with tourism. I, on the other hand, believed we had the opportunity for a complete, self-contained economy that included industry. We finally decided to take the issue to the people, after year-long educational campaigns from both sides. The people chose my approach. Shortly after that, we held a general election, and I was elected chancellor.

“Vellod never accepted his defeat, either in the plebiscite or in the election. He believed that some dirty tricks -- some vote fraud -- had been committed. He has taken his case to the arbitration panels, and to the High Legislature, to be rebuffed at every turn. It's driven him a bit mad, I'm afraid. He does have a small, zealous band of followers. We are convinced that Vellod is more bluster than action, but we must remain cautious.”

“Everyone seems so much more... on-edge today,” Andra said. Is there a real threat, or only a perceived one?”

“There have been rumors that Vellod is planning some sort of move, but we've heard those rumors for years.”

“We suspect Zander Baxa was smuggling firearms of Earth origin onto this planet,” Nyk said. “It's clear to me these weapons would do your administration more harm than good -- but I can rationalize plenty of reasons why Vellod would desire them.”

“We have heard rumors that Vellod was arming his faction. The fall of Baxa's ring was the first indication the weapons might be of Earth origin. We regard those arms as a real, but small threat.”

“Small?” Nyk asked.

“Because of the logistical problems of transferring enough materiel from Earth to pose a large one.”

“We've evidence Baxa was planning some sort of coup. It seemed too grand a plan for a single individual.”

“We think Baxa had been promised a position of authority within a Vellod regime,” Wygann replied. “Vellod believes he can overturn the will of the people, who will realize their mistaken allegiance and become loyal to him. He's wrong, of course.

“It's ironic that Vellod would enlist the services of Zander Baxa. Zander's father, Gunder, was a colonial security chief who was a member of the junta that ruled Lexal for a short while about thirty-five years ago. Those were five years of a reign of terror, I can assure you... Vellod and I were allies in an effort to remove the junta and return the colony to a democratic rule. Gunder Baxa eventually chose exile over imprisonment... Gunder was mad, and perhaps Zander shared some of that madness. Perhaps he was eager to visit revenge upon the Lexalese people.”

“Maybe Zander had visions of occupying this palace with his own princess by his side,” Janna said, glancing toward Andra.

“I knew Gunder Baxa as a mid-level Food Service manager working in Sudal,” Nyk added. “He perished in the same shuttle crash that claimed my parents. I had no idea of his past. I imagine someone accustomed to higher levels power who finds himself in a lowly desk job might have some bitterness.”

Daya directed wait staff in setting plates before each at the table. Another servant placed portions of a reddish-brown cutlet on the plates, along with deep purple root vegetables and a scoop of rice.

Janna regarded the meal, motioned to Daya and whispered into her ear.

Daya looked down and blushed a deep red. “I'll tend to it right away. I should have known better with homeworld guests.” She motioned to one of the servants who began removing Nyk's plate.

“No, please, this is fine,” Andra said. “Nykkyo and I have both spent time on Earth and have no qualms about consuming flesh. Isn't that right?”

“...absolutely,” Nyk replied.

Daya gestured to the servants and they stood with their backs against the dining room wall. Nyk looked down at his plate. “What is this ... dish?”

“It's lagexeva, a lake-dwelling creature,” Janna replied. “I'm terribly sorry if you're put off by it. It's one of Mykko's favorites. Chef knows better when we've scheduled visitors from the homeworld.”

Nyk cut a slice of the meat and popped it into his mouth. It had a strong flavor, with a sweet, aromatic, camphorous note filling his sinuses and making them tingle. “It's very ... good.” He looked at Andra. She ate a piece and nodded in agreement.

“You two are too kind,” Janna said. “Lagexeva is decidedly an acquired taste. Mix it with the inkroot and rice -- that tones down the flavor.”

“I actually like this,” Nyk replied. “I've become fond of Earth Japanese food -- not that this resembles it. But that experience has taught me how to appreciate the unfamiliar.” He cut another slice and pushed pieces of inkroot onto his fork. “Chancellor -- Mykko -- forgive me if this sounds like an unfriendly question, but isn't it a contradiction for you to espouse democratic ideals and yet declare yourself chancellor-for-life?”

“Since we're all friends here, I won't regard any question as unfriendly. Nykkyo, you perhaps attribute more power to my role than is really there. The position of chancellor is more a figurehead than anything else. I view my role not as a ruler but as a facilitator. The real governing power is in the colonial senate, which remains duly elected every three years. I have pledged that, if ever an impasse between my policies and the will of the people -- as represented by the colonial senate -- is reached, I will happily tender my resignation. I've given my word, Nyk -- and I'm a man of my word.”

Nyk stood with Andra in an ante-room adjacent to the dining hall. “Don't tell me you enjoyed that,” she whispered. “I required all my willpower to suppress vomiting. I can still taste it. That ... whatever-it-was has a flavor that stays with you.”

“It wasn't so bad. Suki's mom has served me some very strange-tasting stuff.”

“What do you think of Mykko?”

“Politicians! They're the same everywhere in the galaxy -- and did you see how Janna dotes on his every word?”

Daya approached them. “I apologize again for the entree. I can barely stand lagexeva myself, and I've delivered Chef a stern reprimand. We have