Councillor Trem De Markus sat deep in thought behind his desk. Strictly practical, the only personal touches in his office were holographs of his wife and mistress. This was his second and last of the two terms that he could stand as Councillor. As Minister for Trade he held a powerful yet anomalous position in the government of Ti Lepus. The trade was vital to many aspects of life on the planet, yet outsiders or off worlders were disliked. Indeed, despised might be a better term for some and hated for a few. Due to his and his families high standing on Ti Lepus the Chief Minister, who was also head of the police, had trusted him with investigating agitation amongst the people,

Sitting in front of his desk were two men that he trusted as much as he could. Inspector Nic ra Ptocto of the criminal police and Sessi Dark gen Wattar of the Secret Police, the ‘Greys’.

Not sure why they had been called in, they sat and waited for their sponsor to speak.

Finally, Trem put his head up. “There is a man I want you to see, he is an importer of, amongst other items, imperial programs and technology. I want you to find out what he knows about the programs, if anything, and where they go. If indeed, he knows where they go.” He turned to the Secret Policeman, “Be frank with him, he is my friend and I am sure that he has no idea of the danger he could be in.”

“Yes sir.” Wattar replied. The inspector remained silent.

“Good. Now there is no need to reveal secret matters or who we suspect, but otherwise tell him want you think he should be told.”

The two policemen nodded.

“Very well, do you have any questions, apart from who to go and see, that is?”

The two policemen shook their heads.

“The man is Rentap Dressiler and the name of his company is Ti Lepus Imports. I will call him to let him know he will be having visitors.” Trem gave a slight smile.

Keeping their faces expressionless, the two policemen just said ‘yes sir’ and left.

*********

Rentap Dressiler grimaced as the morning news flowed across the viewing screen. His wife Cheaine, being an astute woman easily read his expression. Taking a sip of her morning tea, she considered her husband’s frustration levels before speaking. “The children acting up dear?”

Another grimace at the sally. “Our children are fine.” He said. A tall lean man with wavy dark hair, he rose from their private breakfast table in their personal quarters and strode around the room, stopping at the apartment door leading to the families’ common area and greeting entrance. He turned slightly, “It‘s the children out there.” He motioned with an expansive wave at the floor to ceiling window.

Walking with irresolution around the sitting room adjoining their bedroom, his lean face with deep set eyes carrying a frown instead of the smile that, in private he usually showed his wife, Rentap stopped at the large window. Usually the grand view of Lepus Mal, the capital of Ti Lepus, would calm him. However, his internal agitation allowed of no relaxation. “It is all these stories about the empire, all of them being repeated over the news outlets, and not a bit of truth in any of them.”

Rentap continued his pacing around the room while his wife wondered how to approach him as she sipped her morning drink. Deciding, she opened with, “It’s not too bad, just some stories. The Empire will just laugh it off, and things will continue as they were before.” She gave a little shrug of her bare shoulders and continued. “These fanatics, they are just sounding off. No one takes any notice of them anyway.” Standing she put on her house gown over the transparent and somewhat erotic sleeping clothes she wore in their private area. The gown was a garment meant only for use in the house.

“That’s the problem. The news people are taking notice and running their stories. And the Empire, well I have worked with many outworlders, even with some of the Legion. They have told me that the empire watch’s for stories like this.” He stopped pacing. “I have read about instances on other planets where this agitation arose. Sometimes the agitation got worse, things happened and soon the legion was involved and people were dying.” Rentap embraced his wife as she moved to him. “I don’t want it to happen here.”

“You are well known, have status and influence.” She said, hoping to comfort him and, indeed, herself. “If you speak to other high status people, they will listen to you.”

“Yes indeed I do so that is some small comfort.” He smiled, shook himself and kissed her. They were in their apartment and could show the affection between them that would be otherwise frowned on in public. “It is early. I will go to my office and get work started, then reach out to some of my contacts. We will see.”

Already dressed for the day, he picked up his comm unit and entered the code encrypting the device.

“Tell the children I am sorry that I could not see them.” Rentap paused and added with a smile. “If they notice that is.” Children the age of theirs were the same across the galaxy. At least among humanoids.

“I will, and don’t worry.” She smiled. As Rentap left, the smile disappeared. First changing into suitable casual clothes. Then taking the time to compose herself, Cheaine moved out of the parents living area through the common rooms to the private family area. It would be unbecoming of a high status woman of Ti Lepus to be seen showing worry or any other emotion. Self-discipline and strength of character were considered virtues of high regard. Almost as tall as her husband, Cheaine was a beautiful woman by any standard. Dark hair, expressive eyes, complimented by a lovely smile, graced her face. A slender body was usually hidden under the extensive layers of clothes that were required wearing, especially amongst the high class. Seeing her children, she spoke to them

“Dinis, Kapat, you are both ready for academy?”

While both were enrolled in the same academy, they were in separate carefully defined courses. Dinis were designed to prepare him to follow in his father’s business, while Kapat was studying to follow her mother’s path. This was not a given, particularly for high status children who had greater latitude in selecting careers than children of a lower status. Extensive testing throughout the time the high status children were in school, along with the children’s stated preferences, resulted in a unique career curriculum for all students in the same group. Children of lesser status had fewer options.

“Yes mother, we are ready.” Dinis replied. In his fifteenth year Dinis was a bright scholar and already approaching his father’s height. Kapat, fourteen was an image of her mother, already beautiful. Both were bright, well-schooled children who clearly understood that their status was something to be guarded carefully.

*********

Having seen her children off to the academy which was in the same apartment complex, Cheaine began her day. Speaking to her housekeeper, she set the days schedule for the automated cleaners and arranged for any necessary purchases. Quietly entering her private study she took a deep breath and engaged her personal encrypted communicator. The call went to her husband’s mistress.

Lorena Makapet, frowned when she saw who was calling her. While used to taking calls from and meeting with Cheaine, this was unusually early.

“Good morning, Mrs. Dressiler, you are early today,” she said with the smile that had first attracted her lover. By any standards an attractive woman, some in the past had compared her to the Circle of Ladies, an unusual compliment for such a xenophobic people. With a sunny nature and wide smile she could brighten any room when she wished. Given her position, this was an important asset especially in a society that practically made mistresses’ mandatory for men of high status. However a woman in such a role always had to be careful. “What is it I can do for you?”

“My husband … have you noticed anything unusual about his mood or has he shown signs of worry around you?” In typical fashion Cheaine came straight to the point. Lorena sat back in her chair. Although she knew Cheaine well, they would even meet and lunch together from time to time, she had never asked her questions about the relationship between her and Rentap. This was not a good sign.

“We talk about many things. I am not sure what you mean, ‘unusual’?” Lorena felt temporising was best until she got a clearer picture.

“He was upset this morning about the news. These stories about the Legion.” This made the call clear now. “Has he spoken with you? Have you discussed anything like this with him?”

Knowing that Rentap wanted to keep their lives separate, caused Lorena to pause. What to say? Her position was anomalous, like any mistress was. However, she had a good relationship with Cheaine and they had made an agreement not to have any lies between them.

“He has mentioned them, but not lately. Why? Do you have cause for concern?”

“Anything to do with those fool agitators is cause for concern,” Cheaine sighed. “The problem is, will they get the ear of politicians? They can if they can catch the attention of the news outlets.” She made a face. “And you know how those in the news business like sensational stories. Add in the Empire and who knows what will happen.”

“Oh I agree. Look how they got so riled up over the last bill before the Council of Ministers. And that had gone all the way through the Scrutineers, before going to the Assembly.” Lorena paused. Was she saying too much?

Cheaine chuckled, “I always knew that you had a brain.” Lorena felt relieved as Cheaine continued, “Look, we both want to protect Rentap, we should meet today to do some planning, lunch at the club?” Lorena knew that Cheaine meant the Trigon Club, where meetings between such women as these could take place discreetly.

“Certainly Mrs. Dressiler, I will dress appropriately.” Lorena said in her most formal tone, getting a rare chuckle from Cheaine, “Until lunch.” With a smile the connection was severed.

*********

Rising from her desk, Cheaine went to her private bathroom. Both Cheaine and Rentap had a separate bathroom as was common amongst the high status. Changing out of her morning casual dress into the conservative clothes suitable for being in the public, she was soon ready to leave their apartment.

First however, she spoke to her housekeeper Jean ne Pator. “I am going out to my lunch now. I will call if I am going to be later than the third period”

“Yes mistress, do you have any further instruction?” The housekeeper delivered in the submissive tone of one of the underclass. A short, thin woman with hard worked hands, Jean ne Pator was of this class, the lowest on the planet. Not as numerous as the servant and labourer classes, never the less the underclass were responsible for much of the workforce needed in the planets more undesirable occupations. It was unusual for one of Jean’s class to be a housekeeper for a high class family and so she considered herself very lucky and was fiercely loyal to the Dressiler’s.

“None that you do not have already.” Cheaine replied. “”When all the work is completed, you may relax for a while.”

After Cheaine Dressiler left, Jean checked all the work she was responsible for. It was far from time consuming and she would indeed have some time to herself. An older woman who had lived a hard life before becoming housekeeper for the Dressilers, her severe features belayed her basically pleasant nature.

‘I am so lucky,’ she thought, ‘to have such good employers. I don’t have to do some of the things that other housekeepers have to do to please their overlords.’ Overlords was how she along with many other members of the underclass referred to their employers. ‘The children are nice, the mistress is pleasant and so is the master. I am very lucky.’ She went about her day.