Technology Wars ((Vivid and bluerosekissed ))

[Vivid Fizz]

The country was on the verge of civil war. No matter how much either side tried to cover up this fact, proof of it was starting to pop up everywhere. Skirmishes along the borders of the states began to pop up as more information came to light. An artifact had been found. One of tremendous importance. It was stipulated that this device could rip through the power of space time itself. Others thought it was a thing that made all steam powered objects run off of the pure energy that it emitted. There were so many rumors surrounding the ancient piece of equipment it was hard to tell what was true and what wasn’t. The only fact that anyone knew, other than the ones who discovered it, was that it was powerful.

The great airship Poseidon sailed across the crisp blue sky. There were only a few clouds in the air and the ride was as smooth as anyone could hope for. The sounds of the engines was soft, almost undetectable, in the passenger compartment of the private steam machine. Magdalena wrung her hands together, nearly creating a hole in her delicate white lace gloves. This was the first time that she was accompanying her father on one of his negotiations and she was nervous. The strawberry blonde looked up from her hands as her father tapped her encouragingly on the knee.

“Do not worry, Poppet,” he said soothingly. A smile deepened the wrinkles at the edges of his periwinkle eyes. Her own soft green eyes reflected her worry and he gave a laugh. “I know you are worried dearest but you will be just fine. Just be quiet unless you’re spoken to. There is no need to pull out this unpleasantly longer than what it has to be and I know you are eager to get home for your mother’s recovery.”

Which was true. The reason she had gone with her father was because her mother was laid up in the hospital. Although Magdalena was technically and adult at the age of eighteen she hated staying in the house by herself. Her father had graciously suggested that she come with him on this business trip. It would end right before her mother got out of that institution and back home for a rest period. Both of Magdalena Wren’s parents were politicians but the wear and tear of the constant strife and debate that was required of the job was starting to wear thin on Rachael Wren. Stressed caused her to become sick more and more and finally her heart couldn’t take it. She had a stroke.

“I just hope that this will be as quick and painless as possible, papa.” She replied in a soft and gentle voice. “I still can’t believe that all of this controversy is happening over an old piece of junk.”

“Now, now Maggie. That old piece of junk is something very important. Something that is tearing our great nation apart and making us a target from other countries. The deals we strike this week can and will directly effect the outcome of our home.”

“I still say it is a foolish thing to start a war about. What does this thing even do? No one knows. No one should care. They can’t even get the damn thing to start.”

“It’s history!”

“It’s stupid!”

The elder gentleman leaned back and gave a hearty chuckle, hands moving on his cane in a methodical manner. Why must he act that way? Like he knew everything? Age was not the only precursor to wisdom. Admittedly he did know much more than she did. Constantine Wren was a well studied, well spoken individual whom made the human condition his cause. It was no wonder that he jumped at this opportunity.

There was silence in the airship as it began its decent on the city below. In just a few minutes they were to meet with the ambassador of that particular part of the nation to sort everything out. Magdalena’s stomach clenched and she looked out of her window. The people below looked tiny. Like ants, really. She wondered if those people cared about what was going on that day or, if like her, they simply just wanted to get over this artifact business and move on to things that were actually worth fighting over.

 

[bluerosekissed]

The Pacilica Comunica (Peoples Palace) was chocked with smoke and caked in a thick layer of soot. The once beautiful plaster walls of the palace were tinged a sickly grey. Throngs of unwashed, poorly dressed men and women chocked the narrow halls of the palicia. Alicia boxed in by a quartet of Zemeren mercenaries attempted to forge her way to general accounting. The large cloaked mercenaries bulldozed there way through tired and confused bureaucrats. The frightened herd were attempting en mass to retreat from the open sun rooms back to the safety of there small cramped offices.

Unlike most countries the Empire of Astoria possessed no ruling body all matters of war, commerce and science fell under the prevue of any one of nine revolving cabals that dolled out money. This meant that at any moment general accounting was flooded with plebes, men and women who did nothing all day but beg for money.

“I hear you still don’t have funding for the peace proposal”Astorian’s in love with the letter p named almost everything when ever possible with the double p. The Pacer Proclamation, the Panax Pandemic and even the Peace Proposal.

“Yes, but I hope that once they have landed the commerce cabal will not chase them away before they can collect docking fees, landing fees, navigation Tarriffs, and import penalties” Astoria in all her history never imposed one tax, of course with as many fees as one incurred for breathing that was hardly needed.

Alicia cursed her luck as a plebe she was forced to wear the staples of the house she served and that meant black and blue, a low cut skirt high heels and a vest with a bust line that showed how poorly she was blessed by the creator spirit. Thankfully she did not have to wait in line Basalis leader of the peace proposal was controlled at least two members of the commerce cabal. With a practiced smile a signatory waited with the signed and sealed dole. Now she only had to make it to the aerodrome to meet with the ambassador and convince him it was in his best interest to do what ever the cabals demanded.

Deacon a minor plebe had all day to wait before his dole for more pavilions for the poor was denied. Alicia shook her head again the pp was abused to the point of absurdity calling a squat tenement made as much sense as calling a duck and tree. Still she forced it to the back of her mind the peace proposal was just a way to embezzle money. The fact that she was being sent without a single member of the cabals proved as much

“I here the ambassador is arising with a beautiful young woman of course these barbaric people are know to be untrustworthy” Alicia the girl with a beautiful name. Alicia sucked in her stomach and straightened her shoulders. Why was her name so pretty, brown hair and brown eyes nothing about her but her lips pressed into a discipline smile was the least bit pretty, why did her namer have to create such expectatios.

 

[Vivid Fizz]

After their airship had landed, Ambassador Wren and his daughter were lead to a tall building. It was odd. Or at least to the eighteen year old girl fresh out school it was. The buildings of her homeland were Roman inspired, with tall pillars of white stone and statues framing each doorway. Inside housed the elaborate and overbearing opulence of the early Victorian age. That is how Magdalena assumed all structures to look, even outside of her hometown. How very mistaken she was!

The dirty and downtrod people did not phase her. At least not at first. Her eyes were taking in how very different everything about this place and surroundings were. Her father gave a laugh. Seeing her like this reminded him of how she was as a child, eager for knowledge with a thirst for adventure. This girl was still inside the lovely Magdalena Wren. The years of lessons had not completely worked that trait out of his outspoken spawn.

“Papa,” she said in that little voice of hers. “Where are they going to take us?”

“To wherever the peace negotiations are being held, “ he replied.

That was not the answer she expected. Double standards always annoyed her and they did more so when they involved her father. He always expected full answers from her. Never was she allowed to be vague with her answers. He, on the other hand, always answered with sentence fragments and never explained anything.

She rolled her eyes as they were escorted into a room. It was a nicely furnished place with a comfy looking couch and a table. On the table was a plate of snacks and refreshments. The person leading them bowed and left, leaving them in the waiting room by their selves.

Constantine sat down and picked up a cookie. He was a rather large man and had come to enjoy his food. Magdalena walked around the room examining it. A sigh of boredom came from her.

“How long are we going to be here?” she sighed.

“Not long, Poppet. Now sit down and have something to drink. You’re shaking.”

 

[bluerosekissed]

Like all rooms in the peoples palace the longue was observable from a crawl space sanwhcihed between two walls. Despite Deacons warnings the woman, Alicia found that the foriegner would not look out of place in any of Astoria’s colonies. It was hard to place an age but she looked no more then a few years younger, perhaps two. After a few minutes Alicia began to feel like a voyeur. While people in Astoria were used to being watched she knew full well that even in the colonies people found it intrusive.

“If you do not say hello I will have to do it myself” Deacon had a very liberal interpretation of a proper greeting.

“Are you comfortable” Alicia asked standing over the girl it felt like a rather hostile gesture, but she knew that she was being watched.

How much could she trust this girl and her father. On the outside the empire was united but on the inside everyone was fighting for there own slice of the pie. Alicia licked her lips not as some expression out of lust but out of general habit. Slowly she advanced allowing the foreigners to gaze upon her. So many question swirled through her mind but she was carful not to let any sign of emotion betray her intent.

“I am Ashram, Alicia, Ashram” she bit he tongue thanking the creator she did not have more then two great families some poor souls had as many as ten surnames. Slowly she sat down facing the ambassador and his daughter hoping everything did not fall on her head.

 

[Vivid Fizz]

The beautiful young woman jumped and grabbed on to her father’s hand roughly. All of her years of being coddled and sheltered had not only gave her a yearning for adventure but had made her skittish as well. Quite the odd combination for any one to possess. Instantly she demurred and took a downward glance at her hands. It would be impolite for her to say anything unless she was directly addressed. At least that is what her father had told her.

Ambassador Wren on the other hand gave a warm smile to Alicia. Despite the fact that he was an awkward looking fellow he was quite charming and an amazing diplomat. The man could get anyone to do almost anything. Quickly he took the woman’s hand and gave it an energetic squeeze. Magdalena simply stared at the floor, only taking in her father’s pinstriped clad legs and the bare legs of the female who had addressed them.

“We’re lovely,” he said. His voice had that smooth accent that had developed from living in the southern part of his country for a good chunk of his life. Magdalena had it as well though hers was not as pronounced as her father’s. “Thank you for the refreshments. It has been a long journey and I was rather parched.”

He cleared his throat for a moment and reached in for his handkerchief to dab at the corners of his mouth. As if to illustrate a point before neatly stuffing it back into the pocket where it came. “It is a pleasure to meet you Alicia Ashram. I am Constantine Wren and that pretty little poppet on the couch is my daughter, Magdalena. Poor thing was terrified to be alone but don’t worry she won’t interrupt our talk any.”

There was another pause as he reached for a piece of fruit and popped it into his mouth. Over the years he had become less formal in the way he spoke with other nations. This was a plus for him. No one expected such a hospitable and laid back sort of fellow.

“So, how would you like to begin this talk, Ms Ashram?”

 

[bluerosekissed]

Alicia was used to dealing with other plebes, people who had all the personality of a still life, with the wit of a rock. She smiled as the man took her hand, hardly knowing her own father she found her self at a loss for words. Unlike her guest she did not partake of the refreshments. A plebe owned almost nothing no matter how high they climbed. Smiling she ran through her checklist throwing out most of the conversation she had arranged in advance.

“Nice to meet you Mr Wren” she smiled subtle threats would only anger a man who clearly wore his feelings on his sleeve.

The girl seemed timid but so were most women if not for her training as a plebe she herself would not speak unless spoken too. Suddenly she felt very naked, how strange for such an occasion she was far overdressed. She smiled knowing that at least she would not have to encourage the mans happy demeanor any further.

“We must first consider aces to the artifact and the restriction of other parties” She smiled her eyes now and then falling onto the girl. A girl she was not so much older yet there lives could not have taken more diverging paths.

The girl seemed to avoid her eyes trying to vanish into the background perhaps she could be exploited. She looked back at the man whose open face said so much and yet nothing at all.

“We know you wanted supervised inspections but I can’t seem to find” Without thinking she began to dig for the papers. It was so humiliating no to find the paperwork she was looking for.

Slowly she laid down the case and picked up her chair she was making a fool of herself and only the creator knew what the foreigners thought. Her bodyguards stood by the one door and one window making sure no evil bats attacked them. Bitting her tongue she would never ask from help not from the ambassador not from deacon, not from anyone.

 

[Vivid Fizz]

The Ambassador did not get where he was because he had an inability to read people. In fact he could read those around him quite well. This had made him an expert manipulator and snake charmer. It was difficult to outmaneuver and out wit Mr. Wren. He knew it, too. It was this cockiness, in part, that had made him so eager to have his little girl with him. His family was his one weakness and it showed just how much he thought of himself to bring Magdalena to such talks. Then again, these were peace conferences. No harm was expected to come to them.

As the girl shuffled through her paperwork, he sat down next to his daughter and held her hand, giving it a reassuring pat. The beautiful young woman turned her face up at him. With her porcelain skin, ruby lips, large eyes, and vivid hair the girl looked like a living doll. Even with the fear etched there she was still a lovely creature. Almost the spitting image of her mother at that age. Except for that beautifully strait and narrow nose. That was his. Ah! How he loved his little angel! He kissed her on the cheek, thinking that the woman was too busy to notice this weakness.

“Now, now,” he said to Magdalena in a hushed tone. “I know you don’t like this.”

“It’s so stiff,” she shot back. Her eyes moved over to the woman then back over to her father. “She reminds me of a robot from those weird stories you like so much.”

“Maggie! You rude little thing! Keep that sharp tongue of yours beneath that pretty little mouth!” There was a pause. “You would be better as an oil painting, I swear.”

The beautiful strawberry blonde rolled her eyes and giggled. “Well, I will do my best Papa.”

“There’s a girl.” He patted her hand softly before standing and giving his full attention to the girl. “Why don’t we start at a different subject until you can find the paperwork for that particular issue. The one I am most interested in is our ships crossing the airspace where the device is being held. Our passenger ships and merchant airships have been shot down in that area, even though it has been a trade route we have used before that silly thing was found…”

 

[bluerosekissed]

She was as shocked to hear this as she could be there own ships now avoided the area. If anyone found out that the ambassadors country did not control the artifact it would mean invasion. She smiled kneeling before him wondering if all this was a big waste of time. She picked up her paper stacking them onto the table in front of her in an effort to buy enough time to figure out what to say. “I think its possible the artifact is acting on its own, that is you’re recent activity may have awakened it.

She was sure anyone listening would long have been bored to sleep. “That is I am not aware of any operations” she bit her lip she was saying far more then she was allowed to say by her master on such matters.

She smiled but already she was afraid that if she failed she would be demoted to executive stress relief. She shuddered at the thought if she did not fix things they may very well fall apart as she had feared all along.

“I was wondering if we could finish aboard you’re ship” She smiled as she placed her hands on her lap and stood up. She looked back at the girl so she dressed for work she wondered if the girl had any experience at it.

Her bodyguards were fast asleep she was sure that the drugs she placed in there air tanks would do the job. Why she knew she would need to her was another mystery females in her family always had a sixth sense for trouble. She walked past the guards looking back at two very confused people.

“Please come” she begged taking a bow in front of both of them which made her top look even more empty. She bit her lip wondering again why she was given the hopeless case of bringing peace. She turned around praying they would believe her kidnaping an ambassador was a very serious charge.

 

[Vivid Fizz]

On his own airship? That was unorthodox; it was the first time he ever did such a thing, but he was willing to try anything to get things sorted out. By the end of this he was sure that the nations would be in peaceful bliss; both using the device however they pleased. A smirk played across his lips as they moved towards the his docked airship.

It was Magdalena that was feeling uneasy about the whole situation. Wasn’t this getting far too personal for professional talks? A strange feeling pulsed in her stomach and she shot her father a concerned look. He wasn’t paying attention though. She knew that look on his face. He thought he had this deal sign, sealed, and delivered.

Daddy, she thought as her father personally opened the door for the two ladies. I don’t think you should be so trusting…

What did she know though? The girl had not been outside of her hometown. Maybe this was how these things played out all of the time. With how comfortable her father was acting that certainly appeared to be the case. He sped up a little so he could walk in front of them. He chattered mindlessly about his personal vessel. How she could make it from one end of the world to another in two days flat if he so wanted. How he took her up for parties in the sky for close friends. Meanwhile, with all of the tension the blonde felt, her corset was becoming too tight. It caused for her massive chest to rise and fall quickly and she placed a hand to her forehead to steady herself.

A panic attack. Now she decided to go to pieces! The girl was prone to such fits and it seemed that this event had triggered one.

 

[bluerosekissed]

Every step she took felt like a million miles. Every foot closer to freedom seemed one closer to the edge of the abyss. Looking around she was amused to find she did not even warrant an assassin, she felt as if might actually let her go.Alicia tried to push aside the idea that she would be on her own for the first time in her life. Turning around she slowly realized the girl was falling apart.

“Are you all right” she asked wanting the time to comfort the girl, yet even if she had the time she would not know what to do. Instead she looked pleadingly to the girls father but from what she had seen he was trying to install self reliance in her.

Looking around she quickly located a fountain, every emotional problem led to a physical one or from one. The water would not make her as right as rain but it would slow down the panic attack, at least she hoped. Placing her hands on Maggie’s willowy shoulders she began to breath in and out.

“I hate Mondays” she began trying to distract her from her situation, instead of simply telling her some meaningless story about how she was born and raised inside a single block of this same city. She did not need Alicia to fix her problems she needed her to listen. “Is there anything you hate Maggie” she asked.

She ran her hands over her arms looking for any physical injury, she also wanted to make more contact with the girl. Slowly she stood up she did not have time to get her life story not while they remained in the palace.