Unlike the Doyle, the Mahoney or the Agnes, the Tainah was not a ship that housed many people. The living space aboard it was not as desirable, with the majority of the space aboard it used to operate machinery and processing plants to manage the excess materials and wastes transported from the nearby vessels tethered to it.
Those who lived and stayed within it were mainly those who did so out of three considerations. The first was that their ancestors lived aboard it too, and thus out of some kind of attachment to this vessel, they continued to live aboard it. The second was that they couldn't leave, either out of the inability to find habitation elsewhere, or out of the inability to afford habitation elsewhere. The third was that due to the aforementioned undesirability of the Tainah, buying property aboard it was considerably cheaper than nearby options.
This made the Tainah an interesting location to live. It was not uncommon for idiosyncratic developments to arise within the Tainah, an apartment development next to a recycling facility, with a small cafeteria nearby catering to the workers and residents. Such patterns were commonplace and gave the interior a patchwork and jagged feel as compared to the more orderly and delineated developments of the Agnes and the Mahoney.
Indeed, that was just the surface of the Tainah. Underground, there were more secrets hidden beneath the surface of the habitation drum. Every ship had vast networks of tunnels beneath the surface of their habitation drums that served as maintenance accessways for the intricate plumbing and cabling needed to run such a vessel. These tunnels formed a labyrinth where those who couldn't fit into society could gather, flowing down into the depths like water flowing down a gravity gradient, stagnating, and festering.
The tunnels were a place where things and people who needed to hide could go. Where things and people who wanted to disappear would go.
---
Merrion was dressed in a completely different outfit than her usual, loaned to her by Inspector Zora for the purposes of this infiltration–reconnaissance mission; a grey long-sleeved blouse paired with a grey coloured set of baggy pants. In her hands she held a small purse, filled with a multitool lent to her by Zora and her own communicator. Concealed under the baggy pants was her electroshock baton, strapped to her inner right thigh in a collapsed state. Perched atop her nose was a set of glasses, with the flat lenses being there simply for aesthetics. The shoes she wore were a simple set of matte black boots with the standard magnetic capabilities built in, designed to be inconspicuous.
The building Merrion found herself standing before was the designated location aboard the Tainah where the welcome tea held by the Children was being held. It was a notably cleaner and more modern-looking unit, clearly refurbished from the other decrepit warehouses that flanked it on this side of the street.
Merrion craned her neck and looked up, trying as hard as she could to see the other side of the habitation drum in the dim twilight illumination within the Tainah. Through the faint mist that hung in the air, she could see the twinkling of lights on the opposite end from other habitation units squeezed together; their lights shining like false stars in a sealed sky.
Merrion tapped her glasses and adjusted them. She didn't normally wear these, and she adjusted the frame slightly. A voice came through from the remote communication unit inserted deep inside her right ear.
Jeyga: "Try not to shake that too much. I can compensate for your walking, but that's about it."
Merrion ignored the voice, mentally taking a note to try not to adjust her glasses too much. There was a pinhole camera and microphone embedded in the frame through which Edmund and Jeyga could monitor her and observe the inside of the building as well. Of course, there was no way she could directly reply without drawing attention to herself. She wasn't alone in that situation, however, but that was little comfort to her, not that she needed it. She had volunteered for this infiltration mission, after all.
---
Opposite the refurbished warehouse being used by the Children was a small café, normally patronized by local residents. Today, business was slow, and only a few patrons sat inside, enjoying the café's signature pastries and beverages. One such patron sat in a plush chair, sipping on a beverage, and talking into an earpiece he wore on his right. To the service staff, he looked like just any other customer dressed in a remarkably heavy-looking coat. To Merrion, he was her backup plan in the event that she needed to be rapidly exfiltrated. With his Verdict hidden in the depths of the coat, Edmund sat ready to rush to Merrion's aid if required. Until that moment came, however, he remained as inconspicuous as possible, listening in on Merrion's feed via his own communication earpiece. His communicator was placed on the table before him, ready to project a direct retinal perspective from Merrion's camera when he activated it.
---
Merrion was not the only visitor to the Children's premises. There were others who were standing before her in a near queue, browsing their communicators as there were slowly ushered into the premises through the double-doors which were the building's entrance. One by one they entered, until it was Merrion's turn. As she neared the entrance, she spotted two ladies wearing cream-coloured robes, with gentle smiles upon their unassuming features. They appeared to be the namesake Children of Manovash, and one who appeared to be slightly older addressed Merrion.
Kind-looking Woman: "Welcome! Are you here for the welcome tea?"
Merrion was slightly taken aback but took care not to let it show on her face. She did her best to appear as unassuming as possible, hunching slightly to make herself look even smaller than usual, while ensuring that the camera embedded in her glasses didn't shake excessively.
Merrion: "-y-yes, that's right. This is the house of the "Children", is that right?"
Kind-looking Woman: "That's exactly right. It's our pleasure to welcome you to the house of holy Manovash. Please, right this way."
Merrion nodded and followed the worshipper into the building. As the doors closed behind them, Merrion looked around at the inside of the building.
The double-doors opened into a large central chamber with rows of benches able to seat five to six people abreast facing to the right side of the room, where a large altar with a statue resting atop it was located. Over on the opposite side of the room were two doors, one at the left end of the room and one at the center, directly opposite where Merrion was currently standing. The others who had entered earlier had found seats amongst the other worshippers, who were all wearing their own cream-coloured robes. Merrion spotted a bench free from any occupants, and quickly moved to occupy it.
Jeyga: "Damn, they've got one hell of a setup here –"
As Jeyga's muttering came in over her earpiece, Merrion watched a person in a cream-coloured robe, with the robe's hood covering their head, walk up to the statue resting atop the altar. They bowed deeply before the statue and turned to face the congregation, their hood still covering their head.
The hooded figure began a long sermon which Merrion barely paid attention to. She was more concerned with the two doors at the left side of the room than listening to the hooded figure espousing the "virtues of restraint" and the "temptation of excess". Every time he mentioned the word "restraint", Merrion heard murmurs from the robed worshippers in the vicinity. Regardless of how hard she tried, she could not tell what they were saying, and merely resigned herself to wait for the sermon to end.
Once the sermon had ended, the hooded figure once again bowed deeply before the statue, before disappearing into the far-rear door at the left side of the room, with the congregation remaining diligently quiet until he had departed. As soon as the door closed behind him, the worshippers slowly got up from their seats, and made for the nearest visitors. Merrion saw two worshippers approach her and readied herself.
Kind-looking Woman: "Greetings, visitor. Is this your first time here?"
Merrion looked at the first worshipper. She was the same individual who had welcomed her into the building. Merrion felt uneasy, seeing the same gentle smile unchangingly plastered across her face.
Merrion: "– yes, it is. That was quite the sermon by, erm –"
Kind-looking Woman: "The Holy Brother. He always leads us in worship. He recently returned from his sabbatical in the 9th Sector with our fellow devotees over there."
The worshipper's expression, previously gentle and placid, suddenly morphed into one of rapturous ecstasy with such speed that Merrion was taken aback.
Kind-looking Woman: "Ahh, if only I could one day join them! Just imagining it fills me with such joy –"
Stern-looking Man: "Calm yourself! To show such slovenly expressions before a non-believer, and in our holy sanctum, have you no shame, sister?!"
The second worshipper berated his counterpart with a firm voice and an unwavering tone, a reaction equally as unexpected to Merrion
Kind-looking Woman: "My apologies, brother. I will…endeavour to make manifest our order's tenets of self-control and restraint.
Stern-looking Man: "This is why you remain at the lower ranks of our order, sister, even though you have been here for longer."
The second worshipper turned to face Merrion. He was taller than her but easily one head shorter than Edmund. Unlike the first worshipper, his expression was more neutral, being constantly at rest. Just then, she saw the two worshippers suddenly look off in the distance, towards the door at the far-left rear end of the room.
Kind-looking Woman: "Ah, please forgive us this transgression. We must be attending a meeting."
Stern-looking Man: "Yes, please excuse us. If you have any further questions, you can wait here. I believe the meeting won't be too long. Come now, sister, let us make haste."
With that, they left Merrion at the bench, walking towards the far end of the room and disappearing through the door. Merrion sat on the bench and watched cautiously as the rest of the worshippers went through the door, while the other visitors slowly departed from the building through the entrance. She lazily gazed around, covering all possible angles from her viewpoint, checking for the presence of security cameras or any other remote monitoring devices. As far as she could tell, there were none in this central atrium. Once she was satisfied that she was alone, she walked up to the altar to inspect it. The statue had captured her curiosity the moment she laid eyes upon entering.
Now that she was closer to it, Merrion could see more details of it. It appeared to be carved from some kind of greyish material, though she could not tell what. The statue was richly detailed and appeared to be of some individual clad in robes similar to those worn by the worshippers. Merrion was most intrigued however, by the face of the individual. To put it bluntly, it was plain, unbelievably so and contrasting greatly with the rich detail of the rest of the carving. Carved at the base of the statue were the words <
???: "Beautiful, isn't he?"
Merrion jumped slightly. The voice had come from her left, and when she turned to see the speaker, she saw a robed figure facing towards the statue. She hadn't heard anyone approach her at all and cursed her lack of vigilance and awareness. The robed figure continued to speak; their head concealed beneath the cream-coloured fabric of their hood making their voice subtly muffled.
???: "Holy Manovash, first of our order. He was given a revelation from what must have been the divines themselves, to lead his life with dignity and respect for himself and others. After spending many years meditating on what that divine commandment meant, he came upon the realization that excess and unrestrained indulgence in our whims and desires was the root of our suffering. Thus, he established our order, to bring peace and tranquillity to those who would accept his teachings."
Merrion: "I, erm, didn't see you earlier –"
Merrion replied, trying to lessen any possible suspicion the robed figure might have at her, still loitering around inside the building even after the sermon had ended. The man, seemingly fulfilled after looking upon the statue, turned to regard Merrion, and deeply bowed before her in a most familiar manner.
Holy Brother: "I am the Holy Brother. It was I who was giving the sermon earlier. It is truly a pleasure to see a visitor so interested in our order. Are you interested in joining? Or perhaps you would be more acceptable to a subsequent visit?"
Merrion: "Oh, I'm still considering that –"
Merrion attempted to placate the Holy Brother with an awkward smile upon her face. She was still jittery from how he had managed to silently sneak up upon her. It was fortunate that he did not intend her harm, or outwardly manifest such an intent.
Holy Brother: "Take your time, honoured visitor. Most first-time visitors do not understand the majority of our message, though after they become regular members of the congregation, they usually start to appreciate the meaning within."
Merrion heard the Holy Brother talk. In his earlier sermon, his voice was charismatic and resounding, but the distance between his position at the far end of the room with the altar and Merrion's seat had manifestly diminished the effect of his voice. Now, with him standing right at her side while they both looked at the statue of Manovash before them, Merrion could feel the aura coming from his voice. He talked with a grace and eloquence that spilt forth from his lips like rivulets of sweet honey, and it was clearly obvious why such a charismatic individual would lead a congregation in worship.
Holy Brother: "Ma'am, pardon the intrusion, but may I know your name?"
Merrion seized up slightly upon hearing the inquiry. She scrambled through her mind, thinking of a plausible alias, before a single name coalesced out of the void. She hoped that Edmund would forgive her for using this name.
Merrion: "I'm Camelia."
The Holy Brother suddenly stiffened up. The robe concealed his figure beneath its flowing fabric, but from the sudden upward jerk of the hood, it was evident to Merrion that he had abruptly raised his head.
Merrion (thinking): Shit, did I say something wrong?
Holy Brother: "That's an interesting name, ma'am. It's a rare name indeed."
Merrion: "I suppose. To my knowledge, I don't know anyone else with the same name."
Holy Brother: "It is a pleasure to meet you, Madame Camelia. I sincerely hope that at our next meeting, you will find it within yourself to come back here and listen to the teachings of Holy Manovash. There is no need to be so nervous here. You are amongst kin, after all."
Merrion (thinking): Kin, huh…these worshippers sure do like to act really familiar with everyone…
Merrion felt a shiver go down her spine as she cobbled together a suitable reply for the Holy Brother's invitation.
Merrion: "If I have the time, perhaps. What about your name? The other worshippers I talked to before only called you the Holy Brother. Does your order have any restrictions on giving your names?"
Holy Brother: "No, but we encourage the use of familial designations to build closer ties between our members and promote familiarity. I believe it is a good thing – oh, pardon me, you asked for my name, did you not?"
Merrion watched as the Holy Brother turned to face her and bowed deeply before straightening up and facing her. Even facing her straight on, his face was still covered by the hood casting a deep shadow upon his visage. The Holy Brother raised his callused hands up to the fabric, and slowly uncovered his head. As his face came into view, Merrion heard a sharp gasp over her earpiece. She couldn't tell if it was Edmund or Jeyga who had emitted that sound. Perhaps it was both. Either way, Merrion felt a knot of anxiety form within herself alongside her rising excitement as she and the Holy Brother met their gazes
Anant: "It is a pleasure to meet you, Madame Camelia. I am now the Holy Brother, but you may call me...Anant."