Baran wasn't the onlyone Graydon found waiting for him when he reached his quarters. His oshota stood at attention on one side of the room, watching Graydon’s other guests.
A man stood guard over a seated woman as she sipped from one of his teacups.
She didn't look up as he entered, seemingly engrossed in the contents of her cup.
Despite the long flowing robes she wore, the woman was Tuann. Her face had a kind of perfection that was rare. A cold beauty a man could get lost in. She looked like a goddess descended onto the mortal realm.
Black hair fell in a thick sheet down her back, her eyes large and her lips painted red as they curved into a chilly smile.
"Little storm, you've finally seen fit to join us."
Graydon raised one eyebrow. "I wasn't aware I was expected, Yukina."
Graydon gave a nod of respect to the imposing man at Yukina's side. Tall, with a build similar to Graydon's, he had brown skin and gold eyes that seemed to see everything.
He'd positioned himself in the role of an observer.
"What are you doing in my quarters?" Graydon asked.
Yukina took another sip. "You seemed so interested, how could I not be curious?"
Graydon didn't ask how she'd found out about Baran's presence or why she felt the need to pry.
As an Emperor's Face herself, Yukina had her own way of doing things.
He should have known the woman would find her way into this matter.
Graydon prowled into the room, taking a seat opposite the woman and her oshota.
He triggered the room's privacy mode, a bubble of electricity andkiforming around the occupants. The field acted as an additional safeguard to guarantee the content of this conversation wouldn't be heard.
No sound could enter the bubble, but more important, no sound could leave. Any bugs would be rendered obsolete.
As soon as it went live, Yukina set her cup down with a clink, the lazy grace she'd had earlier disappearing to be replaced by a penetrating intellect.
"I assume this is the oshota you sent to investigate the little heir's background."
Graydon inclined his head.
"What did you learn?" Yukina asked Baran.
Graydon's oshota sent a questioning direction in Graydon’s direction. Graydon waved a lazy hand in answer.
Anything Baran shared was bound to reach Yukina and the emperor's ears anyway. They had their own methods of investigating if they so wished. Might as well expedite the process.
"Something that I still can't quite believe," Baran said.
With an excitement rare in Baran, he pressed three buttons on the inside forearm of his synth armor. A small sheet of metal popped out. Baran set it on the ground in front of them.
An image appeared.
Graydon leaned forward with interest as a planet's sky took shape, one under attack.
The camera was pointed up, catching a worm's eye view of the aerial battle. Screams sounded in the distance as a Tsavitee raptor hit a tall, spiral shaped building.
"This is what you wanted to show us?" Yukina asked.
"Keep watching."
