Chapter 99: Innocence

  “Miss Astroykos,” Rhetta Ferrill said. She inclined her head in something that could have been respect. “Thank you for offering no resistance. I hope it will make this easier for you.”

  “My name is Hughes, Ma'am,” Chloe said quietly.

  The President of the Federal Senate looked up from behind what seemed, considering her position and the gravity of what she was doing, an awfully small desk in an awfully small office. Between Chloe, Milissa, Errard Zelph, nine other Animus Hunters and the president herself, it felt more like a mecha's cramped cockpit than the seat of power for the entire galaxy. “Pardon me,” Ferrill said, “Miss Hughes.”

  Chloe nodded back.

  She didn't understand this politeness, this shadow boxing match of politics and pawns and presidents. It was all too big for her.

  She didn't understand it, and she didn't like it, either.

  Ferrill glanced at Milissa. “And you must be Miss... Kyrillos, yes?”

  Milissa nodded. “Y-yeah.”

  “Milissa is innocent,” Chloe said.

  Ferrill raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”

  “Milissa didn't do anything.” Chloe stepped forward, ignoring the tension in the armored men who held her. “She did not use any psychic powers save those outside her conscious control, and she accepted the Limiters she was given without complaint. Milissa is innocent.”

  A sad smile crossed Ferrill's features. “I see. Grand Admiral Zelph?”

  Chloe couldn't see the Animus Hunter's scowl, but she knew it would be there.

  “Have you actually charged Miss Kyrillos with any crime,” Ferrill asked, “or is she here under observational custody only?”

  “She is Stephan Kyrillos's sister,” Zelph said, “and a collaborator with the Empress and Rudolf Algreil.”

  “Milissa is innocent,” Chloe repeated. “She is my and Rudy's friend, but she's involved in no plot. Nor is her brother held here. Stephan, I'll give you, has done plenty wrong, but Milissa has not. Madame President, please –”

  Ferrill held up a hand.

  Chloe subsided.

  She didn't want to meet Milissa's eyes. She knew the shock she'd see there, and the fear, new fear – fear that Chloe was going to send her away.

  Milissa was right to think it would happen.

  She was, had to be, wrong to be afraid of it.

  “Madame President,” Chloe prompted.

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  Ferrill nodded. “Unless Grand Admiral Zelph or his men wish to bring an actual, substantive charge against Miss Kyrillos, I believe it would be prudent for them to let her go.”

  “Madame President,” Zelph said, “this is unwise.”

  Ferrill leaned over her desk, steepling her hands just beneath her eyes. Coldly, she said, “Do you have a charge, Grand Admiral?”

  Zelph didn't answer.

  Ferrill nodded and leaned back. “Then Miss Kyrillos is free to go.”

  Zelph growled something even Chloe, who was standing right in front of him, couldn't make out. But the Animus Hunters holding Milissa released her arms and stepped back.

  Milissa rubbed her newly freed limbs. Her skin looked bruised where they'd gripped her. She took a step toward Chloe, hesitated when the Animus Hunters turned to look at her, then took the rest of the distance in one long step.

  She wrapped her arms around Chloe's neck. “Chloe, Highness, I... I don't want to leave you here alone!”

  Chloe wished she could pat the Kyrillos girl's trembling back. But the Animus Hunters were still holding her arms.

  She whispered, “It's okay, Mili.”

  Milissa looked up.

  “Remember what I told you?” Chloe smiled down at her. “We never have to be alone.”

  “But –”

  “No 'buts,' Mili.” Chloe closed her eyes. She couldn't trust them to hide the pain she was about to feel. “I want you to go watch the final match of the Etemenos Cup. I want you to see Admiral Avalon and...” Her voice broke. She kept talking. “… and Rudy.”

  “Rudy needs you, Chloe,” Milissa said.

  Chloe shook her head. “This may be the last chance you have to see him fight. I think he would want you, want his biggest fan, in the stands.”

  Milissa hugged Chloe tighter.

  “Go on, Mili,” Chloe whispered. “If... this doesn't go well... you've got to promise you'll take care of Rudy. He likes you a lot. We both do, Principle knows. You like him a lot, too. And he's going to need somebody who'll be there for him.”

  “Chloe,” Milissa wailed.

  “Promise,” Chloe said, more harshly than she'd meant to.

  “I promise, Chloe. I promise. Only, don't make me keep it!”

  “I'm not planning on it,” Chloe said. She managed to lean far enough forward to kiss the top of Milissa's head. “Now go. Before I run out of nerve and start begging you to stick around.”

  It wasn't much of a joke, and Milissa's chuckle sounded far more nervous than amused.

  But she straightened up, squared her shoulders, and bobbed her head. She folded her hands before her. “Chloe,” she said, “this is not goodbye. It's 'see you soon.'”

  Chloe nodded. “See you soon, Milissa.”

  Without another word, her friend rushed from the office.

  Chloe didn't know if they would really let Milissa go, but she had to believe they would. Why not? The Kyrillos girl didn't matter to the powers vying for control of the galaxy except as a possible bargaining chip, and they didn't need those anymore.

  As far as Chloe was concerned, that said everything that needed saying about the powers vying for control of the galaxy.

  Chloe waited as long as she possibly could.

  Then she, too, straightened up.

  She faced President Ferrill again, but she didn't meet the older woman's eyes.

  Ferrill wore that sad smile again. “That was very kind of you, Miss Hughes, to spare your friend what may happen when your case goes before the full Senate.”

  Chloe didn't answer.

  “And very brave,” Ferrill continued, “to be willing to face it alone.”

  “You flatter me, Ma'am,” Chloe said. “I wasn't thinking anything so noble.”

  “Oh really?” Ferrill shook her head. “I suspect you sell yourself short.”

  “No, Ma'am,” Chloe said. “I was just thinking: 'I'm not real accurate.'”