Surviving Royal Space Politics

CHAPTER 3. OF PERFUME, CLOAKS AND TOWELS.

CHAPTER 3 OF PERFUME, CLOAKS AND TOWELS.

Starack went back to his office to work on his plan.

Nanomachines (miniature machines much smaller than a pinhead) were scattered throughout the palace for security. Observing all guests (theoretically outside their quarters only) and counteracting unauthorized nanomachines that might be there to spy or even assassinate.

Starack had recalled most of the Nanos for re-fitting. He instructed the mainframe to load each of the tiny machines with low amounts of radioactive substance used for marking out space debris. Lord Patches main advantage was his cloak of shadows that allowed him to become insubstantial and pass through walls, float and become undetectable by modern sensors. Staracks plan was to send all his security Nanos on a suicide run into Lord Patches cloak while it was inactive, bombarding it with neutron radiation. The theory was when Lord Patch became insubstantial the sensors would be able to follow the radiation. Thus, allowing Starack and his men to follow and stop Lord Patch before he succeeds in his execution. 

As the Cloak of Shadows worked using magic rather than technology, Starack also had a Shaman with a crystal on a silver chain standing by in case his primary plan failed.

He had been working three hours (that seemed like mere minutes,) when he got an inconvenient call. A member of royalty wanted to see him.

Lady Murr was doing the paperwork at a small desk in her apartments. Although the palace outside the apartments was one big party she found the deskwork a welcoming relaxing break. The administration was seen as an art form. Although everything existed on the computer she liked the tactile feel on the paper when she was working. Murr still had most important documents and royal orders sealed with a wax seal. Lady Murr did all the paperwork as Lord Murr played sports (usually hunting) and caroused. So, it was Lady Murr that made all the day-to-day decisions and Lady Murr that held most of the domestic power on planet Murr. Lord Murr was just technically head of the armed forces.

A maidservant entered and announced the noon appointment, Lady Alaska was here.

Behind Lady Alaska, she had brought her own maidservant holding a small crystal phial on a silk cushion.

It was a long official meeting that is summarized as follows.

Lady Alaska was the head of the Small Merchants Guild ( S M G ) and as such, they talked about silicon and the dependence on Bolox for the substance in bulk taken from its deserts while the S M G could provide superior silicon from asteroids and deep space factories that could produce computer chips that Murr was currently buying from Dat. Lady Murr made it clear that trade relations between Dat and Murr were good and that Silicon prices were good from Bolox. Lady Alaska in turn, made it clear that if for any reason relations with Dat became strained or Bolox’s silicon prices went up then the S M G would always be there to step into the breach. 

The meeting ended with Lady Alaska presenting Lady Murr with a gift to wear at the first official Ball of the celebrations, the crystal phial on the silk cushion. Lady Alaska informed Lady Murr that it contained a unique expensive and exotic perfume.

When Lady Alaska had gone Lady Murr analysed the perfume and found no poisons. The sniffed the delicate scent and smiled. It made a change from the usual musk that her husband always gave her and decided that yes, she would wear it to the Ball that evening. The perfume contained pheromones prepared by Lady Silk to drive Lord Dat mad with desire.

Starack entered Lady Testes apartment when he was cleared by her to do so.

He noticed he couldn’t see her and began to unpack his scanning equipment. 

The official reason he was here was that Lady Teste wanted her room checked for surveillance devices and she had insisted (as was her royal prerogative) that the head of security checked the room personally.

“Lady Teste” he called out.

“I am just getting out of the shower,” He heard her call back.

At that moment Starack got suspicious, she must know he had to come straight away when she requested it. Why was she in the shower?

Lady Teste thought some rich possibly grotesque suitor would propose soon and she in her poverty would have to accept. ‘Fair enough’ she thought, it was a fact of life and she would have to accept it. But she wanted to go with a bang and wanted that bang to be with Starack. She had never been so attracted to a man and was pulling out all the stops to seduce him. She did not have the money for flowing dresses that defied gravity or exciting underwear. But she knew the power of a freshly showered damp woman could have wrapped in a relatively inexpensive short towel. The key, she felt, was to move and sit in such a way as to show as much leg and thigh as possible without revealing her groin.

She entered the room. 

“Would you like a drink?” she offered, as she went to the bar.

“No thanks, I’m on duty,”

“Mind if I have one,” She smiled. Her thoughts, however, were full of curses as he was wearing full RSHBA (royal super heavy body armour). There was no way to tell if her seduction was having the desired effect in his pants and if she succeeded it would take forever to undo all that armour. She poured her drink and sat down opposite the commander and crossed the legs to show a good amount of thigh.

“With respect, I am rather pressed for time. Please illuminate me, as to how I may assist you.” Stated Starack.

“Yes, I imagine Lord Patches presence would keep you on your toes. It is an open secret that he is the Emperor’s personal assassin. When he appears, someone very important dies. It is your job to protect all the guest and if one dies you face death yourself for your failure. And absolutely no one has ever succeeded in stopping him.”

“It is technically heresy even from royalty to openly express such a theory. To assume the Emperor to stoop to such methods. I could report you.”

“But you won’t” Lady Teste smiled.

“It would be a mistake to assume a head of the Royal Guard of the house of Bollox does derelict his duty.”

“This time tomorrow you are almost certainly going to be executed,”

“I have not given up trying,” Starack replied.

“Do you find me attractive.” 

“Yes, Lady Teste.”

“Call me Karen”

“That would not be appropriate Lady Teste,”

Lady Teste stood up and walked towards Starack.

“This could be your last night,” She got closer, “I could help you work off some of that stress you must be under,” She was right up against him now, again cursing the heavy armour. “I could be here for you tonight,” She now was whispering against his ear and was sure his breaths were shorter. “I could help you face the inevitable if you let me,” she cooed.

She was throwing herself at him more than she intended. But her pride was dammed if she was going to give the first kiss. She was sure she felt him lean in a little.

Then…

Then he took a military step back.

“I’m sorry Lady Teste but I am a citizen of the Empire and am not required to submit to your request. I am humbly honoured but must decline. I have reason to suspect an assassination tonight and simply cannot spare the time. Good Evening to you.”

With that Commander Starack saluted and took his leave, leaving an agape rather humiliated and furious Lady Karen Teste.

Starack rushed down the corridor. He had much to do. With most of the security Nanos being refitted he had to call in all the guards to run security operations. The people on his team needed leadership. On top of that, we're all the thousands of little jobs that had to be done during a major royal ball. Time was a precious commodity that was running like water through his fingers. But first things first. After his close encounter with Karen Teste what he really had to do to get on with his day and clear his head was simple. He now needed a quick wank.

Angel was squatting in Lord Dat’s mind like a poisonous toad in a muddy pond.

But she was currently at two distinct disadvantages in her mission.

The first was that she was NOT a lesbian. While she could put erotic thoughts of s*x with women and generally get Lord Dat “in the mood”, she felt no desire for women herself so had no feelings of desire to empathetically transfer to her victim. She could produce the pictures and internal dialogue but not the heated kick that such a controlled subject needed. The second disadvantage was that she was losing concentration and she knew why! Her sister who she shared her mind and body with was smoking a bong of "mind weed" while she was on a deadly mission. Angel was furious at the selfishness of her sister. Despite these problems, she decided to continue the mission. Not so much for the money but rather for the kudos such a successful mission would bring to her reputation. 

In her quarters Lady Murr sprayed the pheromones specific to Lord Dat’s chemistry liberally on her neck and wrist. A brief thought of being alone with her husband that night entered her head and ‘on the off chance’ she sprayed some behind her knees as well.

In the security room, the now radioactive cloak glowed brightly on the scanners.

Starck was in full combat dress and men were positioned. Behind him on a table were a series of facility maps and a shaman dangling a crystal on a silver chain. If the radiation did not work he would try scrying divination.

The guest are assembling.   

Now was the time for the thirtieth birthday ball of Baron Bolox.