As the crowd moves to the ball room of the palace, Mandy pulls me to the side and looks around smiling at passerbys. "Just what the have we gotten involved with here Ant?" she asks in near panic as more Majah-tu walk past us and we both nod at them. "What the hell was this we just witnessed..."
"Calm down Major and remember your place here; we are the guests of HONOR!" She snaps me a look of disbelief. "Damn it Mandy!" I say roughly. "This is their world, we are the intruders that they graciously invited, so we could witness this event." She steps back form me, but I grab her arm to keep her close. "We will maintain our composure, and our military discipline and protocol to their customs no matter how much we may disagree with it; it is their WORLD!" I hiss at her.
She recoils from me and hold her near and she stares at me and then, she relents, regaining some of her military bearing. "You can let go Ant - I understand that this is their culture, and I need to be open, understanding." She glances around turning to see Jah-jahní heading in our direction she visibly straightens her shoulders to greet our hostess.
Jah-jahní gets to us and smiles inclining her head, which we both return. "please forgive us for I am certain that this must have been shocking to you both." she says. "It is our way of weeding out those who are not prepared for the harshness of life." I look at her and nod my head to seem like all is well when I know that Mandy is almost panicked out of her mind. "Please come and join the celebration." She gestures for us to come. I look at Mandy and some sympathy fills my heart, for her discomfort.
"jah-jahní," I start. "The major is feeling a bit indisposed; is there any place she may rest from all this excitement?" I ask trying my best not to offend her, not knowing what they see as offensive.
She looks at Mandy and then back at me. "of course there is. Come this way." Jah-jahní leads us to the grand staircase to the upper floors where the guest rooms are, and the luxury of the palace is evident, as well as the age. This is an ancient place, with a rich history as depicted in many of the murals and tapestries on the walls. "My sister is very sad and distraught, at the turn of events here today." I can hear a tone of sadness and remorse.
I'm not entirely sure, though it feels like something went wrong at the celebration. "Really?" I ask to see if she will share more with us.
"Yes, things did not go as was thought." She hesitates for a moment debating it seems wether she should say something or not. "Lahí, my sister had to fight a challenger to gain the title of Warrior, but the one she was supposed to fight pulled out upon a request." She stops talking and keeps to her own thoughts. I wonder why she is not telling us what just went down here, and what is so tragic here. "This is the place." Jah-jahní opens a door and it opens quietly and we step in; the room is spacious and beautifully decorated. "This is the room that has been set aside for you major; your things are already here." She says.
"Thank you very much for the hospitality, I think I will lay down to rest." Mandy Say unclasping her high collar to her dress grays. I find myself fighting the urge to do the same thing. Jah-jahní inclines her head.
She turns to me. "Captain, I will now show you to your quarters then I will show your men to there's." She says. I look at nod accepting her help.
"Will you be alright Mandy?" I ask since she seems somewhat pale since the Warriors trial, and honestly I'm concerned for her. I was hard on her earlier, but she needed that; Mandy has never been truly exposed to this kind of carnage before. She hasn't seen death up close. Destroying targets from ten thousand feet doesn't prepare you for the harsh reality on the ground.
She lets go of short breath nodding her head, and she looks at me. I've never seen her frightened, as she is now; her lips pressed tightly, but it's the look in her eyes that has me worried. "Jah-jahní would you permit me a moment with the Major please?" She nods and steps out of the room; I give the gunny signal to also step out. He looks at his two Marines and they all leave closing the door behind them.
"Is... is this what it felt like for you, when you were face to face with death?" She asks in a shaky voice.
"Something like that, but your lucky.
"What do you mean?"
"In Africa," I look her square in the eyes. "I pulled the trigger." She looks down realizing that it's more the shock of seeing someone die than actually killing them yourself. "Mandy you need to rest; you need to pull yourself together because I need you functional, do you understand?" She acknowledges what I just said; I squat down next to her and I put my hand on hers squeezing to comfort her as best I can. But, this is what we signed up for in order to keep Earth safe. No one said it would be easy, but someone has to do the job.
"You're right." she says. "I'll be fine, I just need some rest and I'm sorry for over reacting." It's hard to see her like this, but I have faith in her, so I'll give her the time she requires to get back up to speed. Nodding I get up bending down I give her a peck on the forehead; I turn opening the door I look back again and smile, which she returns and I step out.
Jah-jahní is waiting alone for me; I look around for my Marines, they're not here. She smiles inclining her head. "I thought it would be wise to get your men to their quarters, so one of the palace attendants took them to show them the way." I raise an eye brow at this, with a bit of concern; her expression is of curiosity. "Was that all right with you?" She asks. "I do not want to overstep any bounds here with you or your people."
I look at her remembering the fight that took place downstairs, and I wonder what she is capable of. "No, it's fine." I respond. "I'm sure the Marines are confident that it is safe here." She nods and motions for me to follow her. "You know I'm sure one of the attendants could take me to my quarters." I say. "since this is in honor of your sister after all." She turns and looks at me and I can see a mixture of sadness, worry and hurt; For the first time since we met she was not the powerful commander that had come aboard the Helios. She seems some what diminished, I can't put my finger on it, but that would be the best way to describe it.
She studies me for a moment. "May we speak in private for a bit Captain?" Her question surprises me, since meeting we have never been alone.
"If... well if it's alright with you then ok, where would you like to go?" I leave it up to her since this is her home and she knows all the best places to go and talk one on one. She nods and beckons me to follow her. We walk down the hall to a small almost obscured stair case that leads down, about two flights, which is weird since we went up only one flight of the grand stair case. At the bottom we turn right into a very narrow passageway then we turn left to another narrow passage until we reach a door, where she holds up her hand in front a crystal. the door slides open she steps through, however I hesitate for a moment; I mean what am I to expect here?
"Please come in." she calls out. "You have nothing to fear from me." I never thought that at all; I trust Jah-jahní without exception, because she's done nothing to make me feel anything else. She sits in a small chair that is next to a small window that over looks the front court yard, that offers a spectacular view of it. I take the seat right in front of her and she stares out of the window for a while not saying a word, lost in her thoughts.
"So," I figure it's time to start this conversation. "What's on your mind?"
She sighs. "This is my favorite place in the entire Palace because it's so quiet; one can truly think here." She smiles at some memory I observe her while she thinks and her beauty is beyond human; and she is not human, but I find myself captivated by her that I begin to feel my cheeks get hot. I thank God the room is dim, or I really would be embarrassed for these strange feeling I'm having. What is wrong with me, as think back on Mandy. "I know why your major is not felling well." I refocus on here and now. " She strikes me as someone who has not gone through terrible hardships in her life, am I right?" I don't answer because I won't talk bad about Mandy. "I know she is special to you, one only needs to see with eyes that she holds your heart." She says.
"I don't understand what this has anything to do with her." I say feeling a bit defensive.
"please do not be offended I have great respect for her; it just that I have a feeling that she is not suited for the rigors of war." She finishes and returns to that quiet thinking of hers. I feel no malice in her statement just - the facts as they are. She has correctly discerned who Mandy is; with an eye that is uncanny.
"You're right she is not the warrior type; its never been her calling." I confirm with her assessment. "though she has fought...just not that close to the ground." I recall my own experiences and I can't see Mandy doing that, and honestly I wouldn't want her to anyway.
She nods silently. "You on the other hand have killed and are not afraid to do so." I look at her and I narrow my eyes suspiciously; HOW THE HELL DOES SHE KNOW? "Some of the royal family can sense or rather perceive the minds of others" WHAT? "Remember on the shuttle with Mandy?" Wait; Mandy did say something about seeing to much information. So she is a telepath, an empath what is she? Do I really want to know? You know, she started going down this rabbit hole, so lets keep going.