Chapter Seven

[maderr]

Chapter Seven


Planet 0315149 (Coni), private Estate of Grae Drall

"You're a fool, Jundel."

"And you, Yarman, have no room to talk," Jundel replied tartly.

Yarman sniffed. "I fail to see why you are included in these talks. You're nothing but Energy, and seeing as it is

"I have every right to attend," Jundel cut him off. Around them the other ministers remained silent. They'd learned long ago to stay out of it when the pompous Coni challenged the highly respected Draconis.

"No, you most certainly do not. How many times must I say it?" Yarman shifted impatiently in his seat. "Energy have no business being present during these discussion. You are not citizens, you are not members of government - even if you are the Match of the Minister of the East - and we're not even certain you can be trusted."

"I've done nothing to bring my integrity into question."

"Oh, really?" Yarman leaned forward, blue-black eyes alight with the fervor of their argument. His hair matched his eyes, and all but glistened with the oil he'd used to slick it back in the current fashion. His dark red jacket and pants clung to him almost too tightly, moving and shifting with every breath he took, bright against his dark skin. "Need I bring up the matter of your son?"

Jundel drew a sharp, angry hiss of breath. "My son is not part of this discussion."

"I think he should be. After all, if he was capable of murder, who's to say that you aren't capable of similar acts?"

"Just what are you implying? My behavior has always been above suspicion. I am not the rude, ill-tempered, conceited boor who attacks a woman every time she opens her mouth to try and ensure that her race is not obliterated!"

Yarman sneered, "You were created by us, you are ours to do with as we see fit. Why you infernal Energies cannot get that through your head is beyond me."

"That's enough, Yarman." The voice that broke into the fight was as mellow as Yarman's was cold.

Jundel let out a soft, soundless sight of relief, relaxing minutely as a warm hand rest comfortingly on her shoulder. "I invited you here to join an informal discussion, not for you to pick another fight the minute I leave the room." His hair was a deep brown, a little too light to be mistaken for black and a few shades darker than his gold brown skin. His own shirt and pants were maroon, and far more relaxed than Yarman's tight ones. Around the large dining table, all but buckling beneath the weight of food, the dark-skinned men and women gathered all wore similar such outfits, an informal version of their government uniforms.

He continued, the mellow tone of his voice hardening. "Moreover, I do not appreciate the continued slandering of my Match. I have warned you before - I will not warn you again."

"I don't care about your favoritism, Grae. You and the rest can say what you like about the Energies--"

'Draconis, Yarman. They have chosen to call themselves Draconis."

"They'll be called whatever we choose to call them. Or are you conveniently forgetting why our ancestors originally created them? To supplement us, not to run amuck and match with anything magics capable."

Grae motioned irritably. "And our ancestors botched things quiet nicely. Face it - we created a race that we cannot control. It's time we let them stand on their own and stopped expecting them to be our Energy."

Another of the gathered ministers tentatively spoke up, "You say that, Grae. But it's really not practical. A race like the Energy have turned out to be will only prove problematic in the end. They match with whatever, they breed, and they have no need to stay on Coni. Our ancestors never should have tampered - it would be best if we simply got rid of them before they get as out of control as the Temperast.

"We are not the Temperast!" Jundel snapped. "Nor am I some mindless slave for you to just talk around. I would appreciate it if you stopped regarding me as much. We deserve to be a free people, and not your cursed Energy!"

"And just what else are you good for?" Yarman asked contemptuously. "In case you hadn't noticed, you're whole purpose in life is to be energy. You're designed for it, you're not complete until you mind a match."

Jundel rose to her feet, eyes tormented as she leaned toward Yarman over the table. "You think I don't know that? You think that I don't know my life is entirely dependant on the life of someone I have to spend my entire life with, regardless of whether or not I wanted to? That my magics now depend on that person? Always we Draconis are forced to adapt to the life of the one we match with; we're just servants, most of us. You think we relish that? You think the people - outside of the Conis - who are stuck with us appreciate it? It's your damn fault we exist, the least you could do is leave us to form the happiest existence we can. Instead you want to experiment on us, or wipe us out. Just leave us alone." Jerking away from the table, Jundel stalked from the room, silk skirts swirling behind her as she made her way to her bedroom.

Angry, frustrated tears streamed down her cheeks as she dropped heavily into the chair of her vanity table. "Bastards," she muttered. "Just wait until we put all of you in your places. I'll have the satisfaction of seeing my son get the last laugh."

Brushing the tears away, she leaned close to examine her face in the mirror. She grimaced at her reflection, "It's no wonder everyone says your son is just like you, Jun. Mennie definitely got your emotions and temper, the poor thing."

A soft knock broke into her conversation, and she smiled ruefully as Grae appeared in her room. "I’m sorry, Grae. I didn't mean to get so upset."

"You really shouldn't let them get to you."

"I can't help it," Jundel picked up a soft cloth and wiped her tears away. "This old lady is starting to weary of fighting battles that seem hopeless. Most frustrating is that I do not think my son will have a happier life when I am gone. It makes keeping my temper in check difficult."

"I know, Jun…" Grae sat down on a settee nearby, offering her a comforting smile. "If I could get rid of Yarman for you, I would."

"And another would simply appear to take his place." Jundel looked over at him, "Face it. Most of the Conis have never been able to accept us as equals. For generations now they've fought to keep us as mere Energy. And even when we are finally free to prosper as a real race, we will never be equal. Because of how the Conis designed us."

Grae laughed softly, "You needn't hit me with your vehemence. I would give anything to be able to let you go where you will. It is not fair that the bond between us keeps you here."

"I have never minded, Grae," Jundel smiled at him softly, most of her anger fading. "If all Coni were like you, perhaps we would have no reason to complain. You and your wife are my dearest friends. I would not change the situation for the world." She turned back to her mirror and began to remove the elaborate jewels in her ears and hair, "If it's all right with you, I think I'll skip the party tonight. I'm not feeling terribly social right now."

"Of course I don't mind. I wish I wasn't going; it'll be a dreadful snooze without you and Keli to keep me company."

"Your wife will be back soon enough," Jundel laughed. "Then you two can go back to making snotty comments while you dance politely at all your silly functions."

"Oh, good. You can still laugh." Grae sounded genuinely relieved, "I was beginning to think you had forgotten how."

"Nonsense. It's simply that most of the time the company I'm with makes me want to retch rather that chuckle. I'm sure you understand."

"Completely. Certainly tomorrow is going to be no laughing matter. I hope you're still up for it."

"You know me," Jundel winked in her mirror at him. "I'm always up for a fight. And it will be nice to get Yarman on a field where he can't make nasty remarks about Mennie."

Grae frowned, "What exactly are you planning for tomorrow, Jun?"

"More of the same, really. Maybe if I repeat myself often enough, someone will finally hear me." She sighed, "But I've some new stuff to add, as well. And don't even ask, because I'm not going to tell you. Nor am I going to tell you where I get my information."

Holding up his hands in defeat, Grae shook his head. "Wasn't going to. I've learned not to press. I'm only worried about you. You've worked too long and too hard to be caught doing something foolish or desperate now."

"I know. Thank you, Grae." Jundel turned in her seat, skirts swishing faintly. She clasped her hands in her lap, looking tired but dignified. "I don't plan on getting caught at anything. Nor am I going to stop until this entire affair is settled to my satisfaction."

"That still won't bring them back, Jun." Grae said softly.

Jundel blinked her eyes rapidly, "You always go in for the kill, don't you? I know it won't. Even if we're freed, even if we're finally left alone - my son will still be a murderer. And as much as I hate him, I did once love his fool of a father. But yes, I know nothing will change for me when this is over. But it will change for others, and that will have to suffice. Besides…" her face softened. "My son is happier now than he has been in years. That will have to be enough for me."

"I am going to pretend I didn't hear that." Grae rose to his feet and crossed the few steps between them to drop an affectionate kiss on her cheek. "Relax, have something hot to drink, and don't think unhappy thoughts before tomorrow. I command, slave." He winked at her. "Besides, when Keli comes back she'll be dying to tell you all about her trip and we both know how exhausting that can be. Better to rest now while you have the chance."

Jundel laughed and waved him off, "Get back to your guests, and make sure you send them away thoroughly disgruntled."

"It will be my pleasure." With a wave, Grae was gone.


Planet 0315149 (Coni), hall of the ministry

The presiding minister - Minister Mueller of the North - rang the bell that summoned the next speaker to the table. Around the table of gathered ministers - including the Ministers of the South, East, West and several of their subordinates - there was almost a collective groan as the Energy/Draconis Jundel of Drall took her seat.

Around the formal table were the Audience, several rows of seats lofted above the floor where the Ministry debated policies, laws and other such matters. Very few were open to the public; even this current debate was open only to a select few. But every chair was taken, occupied by Coni, Draconis, and foreign dignitaries.

"Speak, Jundel of Drall." He slid a brief glance to Grae, the Minister of the East, an almost reproving glance. But it was over before anyone could really catch it.

Jundel nodded politely to the gathering. Before and after her would be presentations sharing her stance, supporting the renewal of experimentation, and even a few who, like the Minister of the West, wanted her race annihilated. Only the continued intervention of the Infinitum Government kept anything from being conclusively decided, as it conducted it's own investigations into the matter of the Draconis. In the meantime, the people of her planet continued their own private feud.

If she could persuade enough of them to let the Draconis be, then the Infinitum government would have to back off. Because it would not interfere in such matter unless the race in question posed an obvious and very real threat to the universe as a whole. As it stood now, the Draconis had not proven to be such a thing. The investigation existed precisely because of that. It was only a few of the Coni, and some members of the IG, that wanted the Draconis wiped out. The majority wanted the experiments continued or stopped altogether. It was this fierce disagreement that had so far kept the Draconis alive.

At least on the surface. The bitter reality was that somewhere in the fourth quad, experiments were being performed on her people, most likely to enslave them further - and even make them into weapons. A tricky situation - if the Conis knew such things were occurring, they either ignored it or used that knowledge to push their desires for extermination in the unofficial meetings that occurred in bed chambers and private offices. Because no one was going to say such things here; not without iron clad proof that someone within the IG was conducting highly illegal genetic experiments on a race that was already considering potentially dangerous.

Her son and his match were working on that evidence, even while they tried to halt those very experiments. Even now a handful of other people were working as hard as she to help her race. The least she could do while she waited was continue to press her beliefs.

But she could care less about the majority of the Ministry. A waste of time and sanity, most of that lot. No - the fights she continued to pick weren't for the officials in their fancy robes. She looked up at the Audience, jewels sparkling in the sunlight that poured down from overhead. All were focused on her; her fights of late had become somewhat infamous. Not least of all because she often got into shouting matches with the Minister of the South - Yarman Koor. If she fought loud and often, the ones above her would eventually hear what she was saying.

Jundel smoothed the buttoned front of her business gown and set her notes out neatly in front of her before finally taking a seat. Lifting her chin, she looked directly at each and every minister at the table before quietly clearing her throat. A brief pause, and then she launched into her latest defense. Around her the minister grumbled or frowned or nodded encouragingly. But it was the whispers and occasional clap from above that kept her going, kept her trying, and drove her to find new ways to make them all see reason.

Comments

[stardance.livejournal.com]

*sings* Summer, winter, spring and fall
If they're in Maderr's story then I love them aaaaaaaaaaaaaaall */sings*

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Lol.*glomps you*