Thanatyr
Member
Inquiry
3,177 Words
3,177 Words
“How many times are you going to make me repeat myself?” Fiora shouted across the cold metal table from her metal seat. The only light for the stark room gave everything a blue-ish tint, including the badge of the several Conexus officers who had come and gone over the last hours. Or was it over a day now? She had honestly lost track of the interrogations after being dragged into their station at the Elata Spiritus docks. Her clothes were singed, but held in place. The bulk of the airship had fallen off the side of the cliff, with luck and reflexes she dodged the shrapnel that had made its way into the docks.
For such a small precinct, there were plenty of officers to always ask the same thing. First it was the run of the mill guards, then conexus members stationed at the docks. Now it looked like she had to deal with the officers from Terminus itself.
“Just one more time, I promise.” The grey bearded enlil lieutenant looked over the report papers written throughout the day. He sat opposite her postured with his chest puffed out in the stylisting blue tabard from the Terminus division. Each of the reports would confirm her story just like each one before it
“Fine!” Fiora barely stopped herself from yelling, “Fine. One more time.”
She was exhausted, again and again she was harassed by so called law men. Adrenaline highs had come and gone, further eating away at her nerves. A nap would be good about now, but she couldn’t bring down her guard. Crossing her arms around her torso once more, the spurii shifted in her seat. Her left hand reached forward, gripped the edge of the table to steady herself, and she looked the enlil officer in the eyes.
“I arrived at Elata Spiritus with my brother this morning before the explosion, or ‘event’ as I’ve been told it’s now referred to. Shortly after our arrival, I had noticed that the ship was moved from the previous moorings -” she began to recall her story. By the Vis, how many times was it now? She lost count somewhere around a dozen, and was feeling weary with the gnaw of doubt in her own mind.
“And do you know why it was moved?” the Lieutenant interrupted, busily noting down everything as if taking down her statement for the first time. Fiora was certain each line of the report would read exactly the same as every previous one that sat less than half a meter from his hands..
“If I did, I would have told you!” She barked, spittle flying. Being angry was definitely not going to help her case. Fiora paused for a moment, took a breath to collect her nerves, and continued.
“Now, as I was saying. The Perierat was moved, most likely on order from Captain Ventus, though if it was I was not advised of the reason. He or another Enlil appeared to be onboard. I also saw at least three others that I couldn’t identify following behind him.”
“The... laicar passengers you mentioned in one of these reports,” The officer supplied, picking up another folder and rustling through the pages. He showed her the signed report from hours before, “You realize of course we have no record of them in the manifest? Can you at least tell me their names? The port they came in from?”
“I don’t know the name of the place they came from, it was a few hours from the sea and just north of the Denuntiares eastern range, or so the logs showed last I saw them. There were a number of warning signs in the trading camp about not wandering off because of aggressive wildlife in the area. We stopped there for provisions.” Fiora closed her eyes, trying to picture the town more clearly, “I know for sure the place was little more than a few hunting shacks and the airship easily eclipsed the entire settlement. No proper mooring spots or booms. All of the cargo and the three passengers had to be shuttled back and forth via the cranes in the cargo bay.”
“Oh, something new!” the lieutenant exclaimed, a fake smile plastered on his face for only a moment before it twisted into a scowl. The pen he was holding shot forward in an accusing manner, “And here you said you couldn’t think of anything new. So why the hell would a seasoned captain risk an area so rife with vistra and corruption? Was he smuggling something? Were you part of some laicar gang? You were the laicar on the ship’s crew, for all we know you planted the explosive!” Feathers on his head stood on end and his sharp teeth gnashed together with each word. amplifying the menace of his questions.
Fiora slouched in the metal chair with a loud exasperated sigh. Her left hand cradled her forehead, her fingers massaged at her temple to stave off the impending headache. Things would be easier if she just slipped off her gloves and poked a hole in that line of questioning. Only, she knew that would be fruitless, it would just raise more questions about motives than it was worth. Still holding her head she tilted her head to the right so she could stare, and silently judge, whomever was on the other side of the one way mirror.
Are you fucking kidding me? she mouthed towards whomever was back there. Still slouched in the chair she leaned back, crossed her arms under her chest and pursed her lips
“Well, girl? Answer me already!” the officer’s His taloned hands slammed on the table.
With a knock and a creak, the door to the room eased open. The Conexus questioner pivoted his head to see an exquisitely dressed laicar holding a briefcase, standing next to Fiora’s brother. Renzo, to his credit, looked flustered, but no worse than after the explosion. After they were both brought in for questioning, she was told he was free to go barely an hour later. Apparently in his time away he found a moment to change out of his own bloodied clothes. His left sleeve remained rolled up to the elbow, a fresh bandage clinging to his forearm.
The man entered the room with a smile and announced clearly, “That will be all, thank you lieutenant. My client will no longer be harassed by you or... anyone else in this building.”His fingers ran along the various folders on the table, his mouth slanted disapprovingly, “Oh dear, this won’t do at all. Were you questioning my client, Ms Sulmare, without myself or one of my associates present? That’s not going to bode well for your investigation,” he tutted. “Why it seems you are looking in all the wrong shadows.From my understanding, at least, you’ve heard her announce her innocence. I’m sure there are witnesses behind the glass that will corroborate that information.”
“And who are you?” the enlil snarled up to the grandiose man, using the pend previously gesturing at Fiora to lift the encroaching hand which was grazing over his files.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the lawyer put his hand over his heart, mockingly aghast. “I forgot to introduce myself before rambling on, or perhaps you’d prefer if I repeat myself multiple times verbatim, like you’ve insisted she has, before I answer that question.” Pulling his hand up from the pen, the man walked the edge of the table where he stood behind Fiora protectively and set his hands on her shoulders. She looked back at him strangely with the vaguest sense of familiarity, “It would seem you do enjoy it when you pester witnesses over and over... and over. But to answer your question, my name is Amatus Litore. I figured saying she was my client would have given you a small inclination as to why I was here.”
His left hand signalled to the door where Lorenzo seemed to be fighting back laughter but looked relieved, “If you will excuse us, we are done here. Further questioning can be scheduled through myself, and will happen at the station closest to the Emerald Jewel for Ms Sulmare’s own convenience.”
“Fine,” the response was snarled, “However, we have to ensure she’s processed properly. The sergeant I came with will sign her out.”
The enlil shoved aside the lawyer forcefully as he exited the dimly lit space. He inhaled sharply, then barked to the main room of the precinct, “Vates! Get over here. This member of the airship crew can go, come process her!”
Still audibly enough to be heard by the people present he finished, “We’ve still got questions for the rest of them, though.”
From the door to the left came one Conexus officer, a wool cap covering her chestnut hair. Her hazel eyes looked over Fiora before resting upon the Lieutenant. She pivoted on her heel, snapped her feet together and saluted. The motion made her blue tabard flutter slightly about her knees before settling.
“No need to yell, sir, you know I’ve been observing the interrogations as ordered,” the woman spoke quietly, her lips pursed and eyes now staring unwaveringly forward, “of course we both know your true intent with that spectacle.”
The sergeant waved an arm openly towards a free desk in the main office of the department. A bright bronze badge with the number 81721 at the top, as well as the tabard it was pinned on identified her as a member of the Terminus Police Force, certainly not stationed here at the docks.
Half a dozen faces angrily stared, followed Fiora on her walk to the wooden seat, accusing shakes of the head and scowls from the veteran members of the crew. She couldn’t fathom why, most of them were so kindly to her on their voyages. Perhaps, she shuddered at the thought, they thought she was to blame for the explosion, yet trying to throw the blame on the captain. Such an act would be unforgivable.
“For what it’s worth,” the sergeant began, taking a seat and retrieving a form from one of the desk drawers, “despite being our only witness to the actual event, I believe that you’ve had nothing to do with the explosion. It’s hard enough for someone of your blood to fit in without causing more trouble.” Fiora felt her eyes widen in surprise.
“And what exactly would you mean by that? The Sulmare are a distinguished family and libel will not be tolerated.” Mr Litore breathed audibly enough for those huddled around the desk. He slid a chair from another desk over and sat himself. Glasses whipped out from his pocket and he began mentally picking apart the forms before Fiora.
“Well, her hair is what gave it away to me. The roots are starting to show is all,” Vates muttered, offering the lawyer a pen for the papers, “Barely, but it’s there. blue’s not a color I’ve seen on a terran before. My captain always said to be wary for the little details, things that escape common notice. The other officers probably missed it due to the lighting in the interview room.”
Amatus glanced from the papers to Fiora’s scalp, nodded, and continued filling in details on her behalf, “So it is. We’ll have to get you some... product to help with that, my dear.” Fiora unconsciously ran her hand along her bangs, suddenly self conscious.
Motioning to the folders on the desk, he handed Fiora the pen while looking at the sergeant, “I’m sure we can trust on your confidence on the matter, Ms Vates? Surely that will have no bearing on something my client only witnessed and has taken no part in.”
Something in his voice, a promise of ruin or harrowing, shook the Conexus woman. She smiled weakly, “No need to add that, until such a time that it has become relevant to the investigation, or I’m directly asked by a superior. I do have obligations of my own I’m sure you understand.”
Litore smiled in a malicious feline way, “But of course. And now that these forms are all said and done, are myself and Ms. Sulmare free to leave?”
“Yes,” came her terse response. Vates nodded reassuringly towards Fiora, then cautiously towards the Sulmare lawyer.
Lorenzo didn’t speak, he only moved towards the door. Mr Litore followed suit, packing away his things into a briefcase. Fiora tarried for a moment, gathering her thoughts. At least one member of the Conexus believed she had nothing to do with the explosion that took the Perierat Sidera away from her, the explosion that killed Captain Ventus. Just the thought sent a jolt through her, a sick feeling twisting in her gut. It was still hard to believe.
Thank you, Fiora mouthed towards the sergeant, smiling weakly. She held her right arm tight around her middle on the walk out the front door. She could feel the stares being sent her way, burning into her, making her insides squirm. Fiora found herself unwilling to look back at her former crew mates, afraid she would remember them for this instead of their journeys.
Outside of the structure she found the airship Lorenzo had used to bring them to the docks tethered outside, Lorenzo feverishly talking about something with Mr. Litore. Her brother signaled an end to the conversation, a flat handed cutting motion across his throat.
“Are you alright? I’m sorry I took so long, but the damn officers wouldn’t let me in to see you without a lawyer present!” Renzo feverishly apologized once she was in earshot. He offered a hand up, hugged her tightly for a few brief moments, and helped her to the passenger compartment before moving to the front and beginning the departure sequence, “I nearly burnt out the main engine rushing back to city. If we didn’t have an old family friend in Amatus here, I’m sure you’d still be getting harassed. Truly now, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, really,” Fiora half lied, mind racing over so many details that her head spun. She took a seat on a bench to one side of the compartment, sat sideways and brought her knees up to her chest. Resting her head on the metal hull she smiled wearily towards her brother, “I just need to sleep on it, I think. Thank you.”
The red sliver of the sunset barely visible in the western sky and clouds mocked her pain, mimicking the flames that took away so much. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to cry for her dead captain. No, he was more than that. He took her in when no others was. She grieved for her dead friend.
Just after noon of the next day, Fiora woke without alarms. Without noise from engines, without clattering of loading crates, without the whistling wind surrounding the hull. Dulled voices from below clued her into her brother’s shop being open. The sun was up for the brief few hours that it graced the street, obnoxiously beaming through gaps in the curtains.
All in all, the day felt to her like one to just lay in bed and think. Really a do nothing day like no other. One thing in particular gnawed at her mind. The fires had not appear to be mechanical or alchemical, if anything they looked alive as the ship had been shattered. A hungry malevolence that tore through the metal plated hull and created the chaos of the last few days. The mental image of the twisting ribbons of flame she saw in her mind, repeating without an end, feeding into her heartsickness.
At the heart of the burst, something was there. She just did not know what.
A spell gone awry? No, there were no destructive bellator casters on the ship’s crew. Fiora mused. However that didn’t account for the mystery passengers that were back on board with no explanation. Not even great mages in the story books had abilities quite like that. Mysteries abound, she sat upright and blinked in realization.
The place she had toiled over for all those months was gone, with it most of what she had earned. No matter how much the mystery of the airship ate at her, she knew in her heart she would need to get her feet on the ground before running towards the truth. Captain Ventus always insisted that crew members who did not pull their weight may as well be left behind, and here Renzo was giving her room and board above the store without asking anything in return
Jumping out of bed, Fiora began to rummage through the boxes strewn about the room, still stacked awkwardly about. One box finally proved to contain what she was after. Minutes later Fiora emerged into the lobby downstairs wearing the same outfit she had seen the three women wearing. Much of the shirt would need tailoring, bunching and stretching awkwardly on her frame, and the spurii had made use of bracers along with her usual gloves to cover up. Otherwise she looked the part of an employee.
Lorenzo looked over from his conversation with a customer, held up a hand as if to stop Fiora from a distance. He looked her dead in the eyes and incredulously uttered one word, “No.”
She walked up smiling as best she could manage, spun once on her heel to show off her scavenged uniform, “I think I pull this off quite nicely. Didn’t you say you had an opening for me?”
Her brother took her shoulder, walking hastily to the back, “That was for you to work in the shop, Fiora, not out front. Especially since you’ve yet to get that...” his green eyes darted up to her hair, “tide issue addressed.”
One male laicar browsing a catalog looked up, having caught the briefest bit of the conversation. He joked lewdly, “Oh, that time of the month, missy? Shame, that.”
A death stare from Fiora silenced the man before he made light of something he knew nothing about. He coughed awkwardly, stammered an apology and rushed out the front door.
“Besides, sis, you’ve got an appointment at the precinct in a few hours. Just a check in, is all. Amatus said it would be for the best. I may even come along, that pretty officer from yesterday is stationed there, I’m going to ask her out!”
Lorenzo motioned for Fiora to go back upstairs, his boyish smile delighting in the idea of a date.
[COLOR=#000000[FONT=Arial]“The Sergeant? Good luck, you’ll need it. Just remember, you get shot down more often than airships in a hailstorm!” Fiora jeered, an old joke she used to say when they were teenagers. Only after the words left her mouth did the implications fully hit her. Her own smile vanished in shock, she scrambled out of view feeling particularly bad for that quip. With that in mind, she decided it was time to get down to business. There was a lot to be done, and in such a short amount of time.[/FONT][/COLOR]