Three hours later, Sarah rolled herself out of bed again and drank a glass of water. Her throat was dry as paper and her head was throbbing. She hadn't really slept as much as she had dozed off and woken up again multiple times. Everything was quiet and it was still bright outside, but Sarah had the blinds closed. Light was seeping in along its edges. She looked into her fridge and, finding it empty, closed it again right away. Perhaps if she tried hard enough, she could remotely open her fridge on Ayonar and fly a cola through the universe right into her hand. She chuckled and shook her head, then dressed herself in simple pants and a t-shirt before leaving to meet her aunt Therana. The Dark Temple upper levels were as quiet as ever. Nothing reminded her of the attack that had just hours before shocked the world.
Therana was in her office on the phone with the Commander of the Temple Guard Richard Hart. Sarah entered and waited for her aunt to finish the call, then sat down on a chair in front of Therana's desk.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmt4WjAAmR
"You wanted to see me?" asked Therana.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8RjtWbPth
Sarah nodded. "What happened today is a scandal. We must send a response."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCrsAf3XQu
"And what do you suggest?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTj3Gg7tkV
"We use Imperial Intelligence to infiltrate the URS and increase our anti-piracy efforts. We must hound them without relent and bring them all to justice."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6DxrQzZ07
"Wouldn't such a forceful reaction escalate matters further? After all, they had warned you that they would come after the family if you continued to strike against them."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCXiWC2ipW
"And because they now have, all bets are off. They didn't manage to kill Johanna, or maybe they didn't want to. We have their guy in custody. Let's get everything out of him and beat back."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IaOclAVzJ
"He is already being interrogated. We will soon know more, but what do you mean they didn't want to kill your sister?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQtO4GBOtD
"If she had been killed, we'd respond by throwing everything at them. Since she wasn't, our response will be more measured. Therefore we must throw everything at them either way because they won't expect that now. They think of us and the navy as a tired, bureaucratic colossus that can't react fast enough to counter them effectively."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVbdh1KII2
"Unfortunately that's not entirely false. I've come to realize that I haven't done the best job in those areas in the past decade, which is why I've sent you to the north and installed the regional system. I don't want you to forget that, but I have other concerns in the rest of the empire as well, especially in the border regions. The URS forces are gradually coming closer to the border with their patrols. I fear they're probing our response times."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln9BNBArWs
"Do you think we should stick to the plan?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6NKmwz3Ro
"Yes. Return to Ayonar and put more pressure on the pirates. I'll see if I can spare more ships. If we act now, perhaps we can really achieve a quick victory."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQItBF6z18
Sarah nodded. "I wanted to talk to Michael before I leave. I can't just hop off planet without having spoken to him."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZV78LFpWg
"Of course. Be careful, Sarah. We don't know how deep this really goes."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjiwNfAIe5
"Indeed."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYocSTafYZ0
Sarah left the office and strode through the throne room. The Dark Guards at the doors bowed to her as she passed.
Michael was in the Temple's indoor garden, sitting on a bench next to the fountain in the middle of the garden. Sarah sat down beside him and put her hand on his shoulder. Michael stared at the fountain and only acknowledged Sarah with a glance to the side.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N85SePpJU
"I'm sorry this happened, Mike." Michael did not react. "We will find the one who made this happen and they'll get justice."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7O1hWgwlU
Michael scoffed. "Do you think I care about that?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNt2IFfTFW
"I thought you would."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC31F2iYNs3
"I care about her. The rest happens automatically, anyway."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1dwXjxO4o
"She will survive."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpexEwOkAx
"I know, but she could have died. They could have hit her head or her heart."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7HzwTBnzW
"I don't think they wanted to do that."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OVabqs8RV
"Why? Murdering someone of Johanna's standing would be such a victory for them."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A3ZYbXEAr
"Yes, but a loud bang like that sometimes brings the ceiling down."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2rsKzDJnB
"What do you mean?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29260csp1q
"If they poke us too much, they get more of a reaction than they can handle, which is why we will measure our response on the assumption that Johanna was killed."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy829FSfmw
"So you'll finally kick them in the face?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjIfoV0XE0
"We'll try to find a face to kick in, but we hope that the piracy problem will soon be one of the past. Our first wave of coordinated strikes was quite successful."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb9wbzTGya
"I see. You are returning to Ayonar then?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLYciU1sfw
"Yes, within the hour if possible. I'm sorry I will probably not be here for the real wedding."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPwa0HPmeQ
"It's fine. At least we'll know you're out there doing something."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYOCdEVxj5
"Yeah, no problem. Will you be okay?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJKPJrX0mK
"I'm late for visiting her."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1qCq3pGXT
"Perhaps she's awake now and you can talk."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmBAgcyrtj
"I hope so."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nS4NbAClG
Sarah smiled and hugged Michael. It hurt her to leave, but duty called and she had a job to do. They left the garden together and split up at a junction. Michael went to the Temple hospital and Sarah to the hangar. She had thought to have a few days vacation, not be wrapped up in family drama and her work following her here. As her shuttle shot upwards towards the stars, Sarah looked out the window at the Temple Complex. She had thought it looked more impressive when she initially left for Ayonar.
