Chapter 8

I tilt my head at Farsa in inquiry. It may be my surprise at being asked and not demanded. But I swallowed. "There has to be more to it than that, miss Farsa."

She smiled and had a sip of her own cup of tea before speaking. I tilt my own glass of ale to hit the clean glass just below the rim, checking for discoloration. In my thoughts, I found it odd. Her willingness to ask me, instead of making a demand and tying me to a set of strings attached to the exchange. I set my glass down without touching it further and sighed. After observing me for a moment, Farsa spoke. "While that would be what the old me would do, I will not do that to you miss Elise." she sighed "and Elise is not your real name, is it?" the look on my face darkens, and my facade cracks slightly as my eyes flick around the room.

Farsa smiles soothingly. "You are thinking, aren't you? noting exits, and possible weapons. Threats; Does she have a weapon? How long will it take me to subdue her? Does she have backup waiting? Did I think of everything I need to in these few seconds?" she sighs "that is the kind of mindset I want… a Human's intuition and ingenuity.. that instinct that drives your species to preserve their own life and limb and allows you to do great feats of physical strength, or grants you the willpower to defy all odds." she sighs uncannily "...and that primal, and visceral, killing instinct that goes along with it." she sips her tea.

I blink in unexpected confusion. What does this woman want, what angle is she at with this? After a few seconds of lingering silence, an exasperated sigh leaves my lips "fine. What do you want to be done?" Farsa finishes her cup of tea and hands me an Iridian datapad, with the image of an Iridian matron on it. "Is that.." the name hitches in my throat, and Farsa's eyes twinkle at my recognition of the face. "Yes. that is Matron Kelle.." I look at Farsa with a curious eye "who is she to you?"

Farsa leans back in her seat, pursing her lips thoughtfully before she speaks. Seemingly she is choosing her words carefully. "I have a problem my dear sister caused around 8 months ago when she left her position and abdicated as High Matron." Farsa pours a new cup of tea for herself from the teapot on a tray in between us. I tilt my head in surprise at the revelation. "your sister was high matron?" Farsa responded to that inquiry with a self-deprecating smile. "We do not look alike, but we share parents." she sighs softly "but that is not here nor now. I need you to depose Matron Kelle."

I stare at the Teal-haired Iridian with a confused look "I thought the high matron was the law of Iridian society? Why does she need to die?" I ask Farsa. Clearly, Farsa has thought this one through. I do not know her intentions and with the memories of my last botched job fresh in my mind, I was not willing to take a chance on secrecy from important figures. Hence the two questions; If I was to survive longer though, I need allies. The Iridians were at the bottom of the shortlist of potential allies, but since they saved me from certain death in the vacuum of space, they had every reason to hold it over my head as if it was a carrot and I was a rabbit in a hat. I needed to tread carefully. Farsa smiled at me with a rather thin, yet understanding smile. "I understand you have reservations. Iridians have created a reputation for themselves that the rest of the galaxy sees unfavorably. Take your time to think it over. Here…" Farsa slid a holocard across the table to me, another human device. In the red hologram in the center, was a communications endpoint number and her house seal. 'House Reghyn? Interesting.' I muse internally. If her house is house Reghyn, this makes complete sense. Reghyn has a Xeno-centric philosophy and a lot of political influence inside and outside the Iridians' society. They treat with the Systems Commonwealth, and I Have connections in the Commonwealth. I muse a moment on how my fortunes keep crossing paths with Systems Commonwealth allies or associates. Meaning I must be closer to 'Wealth space. Farsa seemed to notice my expression once i saw her house seal, and she smirked. "Take your time, miss..?" she tilts her head at me in inquiry. No sense hiding it now. "My real name is Kara."

Farsa blinked at that revelation "wait, oh honey, you must be joking.." it apparently was her turn to be surprised. What goes around, comes around it seemed. "The infamous assassin of General Moldsyava? They died a year ago presumably. Lost to space!" she pauses "well, that would explain why we found you in cryogenic stasis adrift.. About oh… 5 light years from Alpha Centauri?" she sighed. "Well, no matter. That makes this all the better." she huffs "your actions created a political firestorm back in Humanity's sphere."

I tilt my head "dare I ask what transpired while I was taking a nap?" Farsa tittered before replying, finding the way I put it humorously "well, to put it bluntly, the Federation and Commonwealth had a small skirmish and decided to merge their governments to avoid mutually assured destruction. In short, you achieved essentially the opposite of the goals of whoever hired you to kill the departed general." she smirks at me, and apparently my expression said what was on my mind. "oh don't get me wrong, it was a good and fair kill. Moldsyava had made many enemies by preaching for the re-unification of humanity, but your employers may be several layers deeper than you may realize."

I swallow the sensation in my throat, it seems there may be more than I thought to my previous employer. I nod my head in recognition of the facts presented. "Perhaps. I need to sleep on this, Farsa." she handwaved at me "please, be my guest!" she smiled at me "and Kara?" I paused.. Having stood to walk out of her office slash quarters. I turn my head over my shoulder to eye Farsa as she smiled at me. "It is a pleasure to meet you."