Page 99 of Right Next Door
“Looking forward to it,” the senior said, inclining his head to them as they separated.
Misty looked up at Tsok. “The announcement? You have a date for it?”
“Three days,” he said. “We’ll hold a press conference then. I hope you’ll agree to attend?”
“Yeah, of course,” she said, getting a grateful look in return.
Their hover was already waiting for them outside. Once again, the staff saw them leaving and preemptively brought their vehicle around so they didn't have to wait. Little conveniences like that were very nice, though she was worried she was getting spoiled. There were worse things, she figured as she made room for Tsok to enter after her.
The moment the door was shut and they were on their way, she immediately spilled about everything she’d seen the High Imperium doing. How sketchy it had looked. How they hadn’t even given her a single hint as to what they had been doing.
And, true to the High Imperium’s word, Tsok was completely nonplussed.
“I’m sure they had a reason.”
“Really?” Misty gave him an incredulous look. “Just like that?”
“The High Imperium is a person of impeachable moral character.”
“They were skulking around and doing weird things to the True Match servers.”
“I’m sure they had their reasons.”
“What if it was bad things they were doing?”
“I’m sure it wasn’t.”
“Why are you so calm about this?” She asked, baffled.
“It’s the High Imperium. I’m sure whatever they were doing, it couldn’t be anything bad,” Tsok chuckled.
“Wow,” Misty sank back in her seat. “That is definitely not the reaction I was expecting. You really have that much faith in this person?”
Tsok put his arm around her, pulling her in close. “You’re not from the Coalition, so you wouldn’t understand. The High Imperium is someone… well, they’re just… They just don’t do anything wrong. They mediate without picking sides. They never impose their will or power on another. Sure, they’re veiled in mystery, but there is no record of an Imperium doing anything bad or illegal. And they have ruled over the Coalition for thousands of years.”
“You don’t even know who it is.”
“I don’t have to. I know it’s a vitulli, and I know that if ever they start showing favoritism for any one species over another, whoever is under the veil will be replaced. The vitulli are secretive, but they also don’t involve themselves in the power struggles of others. So, whatever they did or didn't do, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Wow,” Misty said again. “I can’t even imagine having that much faith in an authority figure.”
Tsok gave her a look. “I’m an authority figure.”
“You don’t count,” she said immediately, earning a laugh.
The hover pulled around to the back of her manor. As Tsok was helping her out, he said-
“Mind if we take a walk in the garden before we go inside? I’d like to stretch my legs.”
“Yeah, sure,” she agreed, falling in step beside him as he took her around to the paths that led into the gardens instead of back into the manor. The gorgeous fellbud trees were stunning in the moonlight, the pale purple flower petals seeming to glow. Their sweet, delicate scent was somehow more powerful in the quiet of the night. Though the city was nearby, it wasn’t loud like what Misty would have expected in an Earth city. And they were far enough removed from it that there was nothing to break the tranquility of the garden.
“Did you know,” Tsok started, catching her attention, “that fellbud flowers are the official, planetary flower of Kree?”
“Really?” She smiled. “I didn't know the planet had an official flower.”
“Oh, yes. Holotulle is the capital of the Coalition. It’s an enormous ringworld. Made by the vitulli, as it so happens. And on Holotulle, there’s a large, beautiful monument to the Coalition. It’s shaped like a spiral, and the spiral is made up of individual plots in which every Coalition species offers up a flower that they believe represents their planet. The fellbud flower is what we sent. The tree there is much smaller, more like a bush than these grand trees, but it is the same sized flower. Just as beautiful and fragrant.”
Misty let out a wordless sound of appreciation. “I’d like to see that monument someday.”
