Chapter 5: Artelis

Sonny awoke to the sound of a bottle rolling across the white marble floor, chinking as it went, creating echoes of torturous horror in his whiskey-soaked mind. Gradually, he became aware that Jax was already moving around the room, cleaning up datapads, glasses and half-eaten plates of food on his desk. He turned on the uncomfortable sofa to see if there was anyone else besides Jax in the office.

He slowly opened his eyes wider and immediately regretted it.

His head pounded as his gaze landed on the bottle of whiskey, which had now graciously stopped rolling. He looked up towards the desk, though his eyes were not working properly yet. Everything looked warped, it was like he was looking through a glass of water, with the lights flaring painfully in his eyes. It didn't help that the entire room was white and designed to be as bright as it was.

“What?” he muttered, more in question as to why. The lights of the stark room blazed into his eyes, bright, white and searing. He couldn't understand. “No…” he groaned, tucking himself further back into the sofa. “Go away.”

“You have to get up,” Jax said steadily, barely paying attention to him.

“No, don’t make me do stuff”, he pleaded.

“I’m not making you do anything. Oso has just arrived,” she said, darting from one side of his office to the other, carrying various bottles and data pads. Sonny grabbed his head, still wondering what the hell was going on. She made her way over to him and shooed him with her hands, “Up!”

He slowly started to move to the side, but she grabbed him, her dainty arms not able to pull him up, but enough to direct him.

“Why are…you?” he asked. By the Autarch himself, he felt stale. “Where are my pants?”

“Go shower and get changed”, she replied dismissively. She was now fluffing the cushions on the sofa that he had been sleeping on. He had a crick in his back from it. It was one of those awful things built for aesthetics rather than comfort. He nodded, still feeling completely confused. The nod was a mistake. His head was swimming, and not well. He stood up, trying not to turn too quickly, not wanting to completely dislodge his brain.

Sonny stood in the shower, hot water running down his broad shoulders and the spray pooling at his feet. He leaned forward, hands pressed against the cold tiles, staring into the mirror, silently judging himself. His dark, thick hair was damp with product, and his normally bright blue eyes were now slightly dull and red. He didn't want to get out, but he also hadn't caught what Jax was saying or why she was waking him up so early.

Once out of the shower, he had his usual existential crisis while staring into the mirror as though looking at his reflection would yield some answers. He had bags under his eyes. He stretched his neck and tried to put himself together as he ran his hands through his hair.

He dressed at a pace that suited his throbbing head and made his way back to his office. It was spotless. The sofa that was tucked in the corner looked exactly as it had the first time he’d seen it. The large stone meeting table sat just off the centre of the room, with the glass panels revealing the edges of his Home ship and the vast abyss of space. On the other side of the room, atop the dais sat his black stone desk, now neater than he had ever seen it. The symbol of the Artelis house hung behind it, spanning three meters, reaching for the high ceiling. The symbol of his House, the Valkyrie with her sword facing down, her feet together, and her wings spread wide, reaching to either side of the large room. Sonny hated it. It was too ostentatious.

Below, Jax sat at his desk, furiously working on a datapad. She turned and looked up at him, her sharp analytical eyes taking him in. She then vanished from sight. There was a soft clang as the datapad she was holding dropped to the desk. She then reappeared right in front of him again with a small whoosh.

“It’s too early for you to be shifting around me, Jax” She handed him a glass with something fizzing in it.

“Double?”

“Quadruple,” she replied, vanishing from sight once more and then arriving back at the desk. He was used to her teleporting all over the place, but it somehow made him feel sick when he was hungover.

Jax had been with him since she was ten years old. She was known as a shifter, considered highly valuable people in the galaxy for their abilities to teleport vast distances, move resources, people and, most impressively, armies. Jax, as in all aspects of her life, showed incredible talent and skill with her shifting, making her one of the most desirable in all the galaxy in her class.

She was put into his service by his father. He had watched her grow up from a little blonde girl with terror in her eyes to the most competent member of his staff. She had become tall and beautiful with a quick wit and terrible focus on work. She held his House together. She also frequently reminded him of this. Sonny didn't mind when she did. He was grateful for her, and she was his closest advisor because of this. Nobody knew him like she did, and that sometimes made him feel uncomfortable.

“There’s still that echo in here,” he said before draining the drink. He shook violently, like being kicked in the head by an angry ex. He fluttered his eyelids and allowed the light back in. It was still harsh but manageable enough now. It was her special concoction with a whole bunch of chemicals and remedies that she had explained to him far too many times, but he still had no idea what was actually in it. All he knew was that it worked.

“Why did you wake me up so early?” he asked.

“It’s midday”, she said, still working through the data pad.

“Same question,” he said, looking out of the viewport of his office. He saw the green lands of the ship teeming with people. A city in space. The size of a small country on some planets, held together by artificial gravity, which held onto their atmosphere. It was the only thing he liked about being Head of the Artelis House.

The artificial sun moved around the ship. Merely a controlled fusion reaction that was kept in orbit by the ship's systems hung above the viewport. The day was bright, as it always was. The rolling fields that led to the small city in the hills held his House’s offices and various departments, schools, the university and training facilities and barracks for his soldiers.

Their housing was kept on the other side of the ship, away from the prying eyes of his office. He had always thought that was a nice touch. His personal team was kept in the building below him. His offices were built like a sharp spike that erupted from the land mass. It held some of their fighter ships and military assets, with the rest being spaced out on the borders of his Home ship.

The people had freedom here, young people learning and experimenting, coming up with new discoveries and exploring new planets. However, they also needed to be ready to invade any planet at the drop of a hat or turn this beautiful disc with its lush fields and tall buildings into what it was meant to be, a fortress in the nether. Designed for occupation and oppression. That was the part he really didn't like, though unfortunately, that was where his talents lay.

“I’m trying a new sleeping schedule, where I can…”

“Okay,” she said, cutting him off, clearly not having time for his excuses today.

“What are you doing anyway?” he asked, walking over to the desk. “Did you say something about Oso?”

“Yes, he’s here and waiting for you, and I’m trying to find out why. You are way behind on your duties, but you always are, so that can’t be it.”

He decided not to give her the answer of ‘I have a system’, knowing that she knew that that wasn't true and that the fizz hadn't quite alleviated his pain completely yet. She looked at him intently, dropping the pad to her knees. “I know that you don’t like him, but be careful,” she warned. Sonny sighed deeply.

“The man is responsible for more devastation in the galaxy than you could imagine”, he said, knowing that she was more than aware of this. He was truly a despicable man. He would sign off death warrants on people, cities, and planets and then deny any actions that he had in it. Saying some shit like, ‘We will rebuild after this tragedy, for the people’. He specialised in clean-ups. Clean-ups that led to investment into planets to get them back up and running in his favour, making a fortune for himself and his cronies along the way. Sonny hated that his father kept the serpent around.

“Regardless,” she said, her head tucked into the datapad once more.

“I really hoped he would’ve been dead by now,” he mumbled, his turn to shoo her off the seat. He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, and rubbed his eyes. “I’m ill. Tell him to come back.” He didn’t need to look at her, he could feel her burning gaze. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself as best as he could, then added, “Okay, fine. Let him in.”

“He’s still making his way off of his ship”, she said, now sitting on the side of his desk, still working on the datapad.

“Can’t Culpa handle this?” It was basically the only reason that Sonny maintained a relationship with his own High Chancellor of the Artelis. To keep shit like this out of his way.

“He’s in the Jorel system. Could this have anything to do with Yeley?”

“Yeley?” he asked, confusedly, hoping with all hope that it wasn't the case. “What’s happening on Yeley?”

“No, can’t be that, it’s just some riots”, she said slowly, still scanning the pad, putting Sonny at ease. Standing up and peering over his desk toward the port. There it was. A Matise interstellar yacht, the vessel of choice for his father's attache. He slumped back down in his chair. “What did you say to Valentine the last time you saw him?”

“Nothing really, just that I hoped his people poisoned, lynched and flayed him or something.” She shook her head. “Nothing major.”

After a few moments, there was a knock at the door. It swung open and unveiled the man himself, High Chancellor Oso. A mummy who didn't seem to have the space in his schedule to stop working. His pale grey skin sagged on his bones, his eyes almost no longer visible under his immense eyebrows and overflowing forehead. It was like he had been inflated once, and his skin never retracted. He seemed to get a fright as the door was opening, looking up, mesmerised by the act of a door opening. They probably didn't have doors when he was born, thought Sonny.

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“High Chancellor Oso”, Jax said warmly, shifting to his position in a flash. Oso jumped as she arrived in front of him from thin air.

“Ah, Council Quilliam”, he wheezed after his brief fright, “You become lovelier”.

“Thank you, High Chancellor, may I get you some refreshments?” Jax asked.

“Creepy fuck” said Sonny under his breath, as he watched them from behind his desk, wondering how long it would take the relic to get around the House’s table. It sat Eleven, in ornate stone chairs with more than enough space to ensure that there was no way to reach the person sitting next to you. Sonny closed his eyes as he saw the fossil was going to walk around it. His pace had decreased since he had last seen him.

“I have a member of my staff bringing me my tea.” He said in three breaths as he walked. She bowed and gave Sonny a look as if to say, ‘Take this seriously. He put his head back in his hands and remained that way until he heard Oso sit in the chair across from his desk. He couldn't believe how long it took.

“Ah, Oso, thank you for joining me. You look great,” he said flatly. The old man chuckled without expression. “What is it that keeps you so young?” The staff member with his tea was standing behind him, trying desperately to hold back a laugh. He must have arrived in the room some time ago and followed the old man to his chair. The old man must have chosen not to hear this. “What can I do for you, Oso?” he asked, waving his hand at the servant. He wouldn't be sure if Oso would notice that they were there.

The staff member placed a teacup in front of Oso and poured the tea from a delicately designed pot. It looked like an old Sha-En styled teapot. His treasures of war, Sonny thought. The tea stank, so Sonny held his hand up to indicate that he was fine. Oso’s servant made their way out of the room while the High Chancellor readjusted his deep purple robes. The man had no strength, so it was a tough watch. He finally managed and then adjusted the same purple-coloured headdress.

“Lord Matise,” he said, as if only just realising Sonny was in the room. Sonny couldn’t count how many times he’d told the old man he hated being called by his family name.

“Thank you for hosting me,” Oso added, offering a small bow of his head.

“No problem. How can I help?”

“I have been asked to deliver a message to you on behalf of your father, the Grand Lord René Matise. He sends his greetings”

“Hi. Now, please, for the love of the Autarch, why are you here?” Sonny asked, leaning back into his chair.

“You have heard of the unfortunate happenings on Yeley, I am sure? Being so fond of the planet yourself?”

Sonny’s heart skipped. Jax had just brought it up. He must have missed something. A planetary leader dealing with unrest wasn’t exactly rare. In fact, it was practically expected. Yeley had seen its share of turmoil before. It didn't stop the small shiver that ran down Sonny’s back.

Yeley was a planet that Sonny was fond of, but it was also a planet where he was protecting something. Something he now truly hoped the rest of the Houses, and especially this decrepit talking corpse, didn't know about.

It was an important planet, being the agricultural centre for their region. An entire planet dedicated to the food production of twelve planets. Most of which were independent, but the planets were spread across three regions. Sonny’s own, the Artelis, and the Dorlec, led by Joseph Valentine. A waste of oxygen in Sonny’s opinion. As well as the Eshara.

The Eshara, while not a House, held its own form of influence. It was the known criminal underworld, headquartered near the planet. That wasn't something that would cause Oso to come here. Victoria Sequiera, the head of the Eshara, did some work for the Houses.

Sonny couldn't stop the sinking feeling in his stomach.

“No, what's happened?” is what he said, feigning ignorance.

“Awful, really. It seems that the people of Yeley are rising against the dear Regent Traes. A coup d'état seems to be on the horizon.” Sonny noted that Oso still referred to independent planetary leaders as Regents, as though they held that seat for his dearest Autarch.

“Yeley is an independent planet. They don't belong to the Houses, Oso. You really should know that.” Even as Sonny said it, he realised, ‘belong to the Houses’, the Houses were an alliance of powers, they were not meant to be an overruling dominion. “Why would I need to be briefed on this?”

“Ah, yes, well, we are aware of your fondness for the planet and the Regent and his family, so we have been tasked with asking that you do not get involved in this matter,” he wheezed.

“Not get involved?” Sonny said slowly cocking his head. “This must be the fifth time that they have had riots since Pac Traes took over. They have never been ousted before. Why is this any different?” Sonny was starting to feel nervous.

“Well, it seems,” he said, nodding worryingly, “This time, they may be successful, and the Houses cannot have a hand in this at all.” He had an awful lurch in his stomach, and it wasn't from the hangover. He knew what that meant. “They are an independent planet after all”, Sonny felt that one.

“I would never think of it,” he said, smiling. “ They are independent, as you say”

“Ah, good, ah yes,” he said, digging in the pockets of his robe. He eventually pulled out a paper envelope with a gold seal. A seal of a crown emanating sun rays, and within the crown, an eye wide open. The Autarch's seal. The Autarch's seal on paper was an official order. Sonny took the envelope from the withered hand and saw light emit from the space where he had touched it, authorising its opening.

“An official order telling me to stay out of Yeley?” Sonny said, trying not to say it through gritted teeth. He thought of the last time that he had held a paper order with this seal upon it. Once this was delivered, there was no denying it.

“Or having any contact with any representative of it,” Oso added. If Sonny could determine any emotions from the man, he imagined that the undying flesh sack would be relishing in this moment.

So they were getting him out of the way so that they could take the planet unimpeded.

“Understood,” he said through a forced smile, wondering how little effort it would take to end this man.

“I know that these may be difficult orders”, Oso said, bowing his withered head.

“We both know what I do when I get difficult orders, High Chancellor”, Sonny replied, with a warning smile. “Will you be staying long?” Now wanting this man out of his sight as soon as humanly possible.

“No, unfortunately not. I am now on my way to Dorlec space to meet with Lord Valentine.”

“Similar orders, I would imagine”, Sonny hoped.

“Something of the like,” said the ancient wicker man who endeavoured to stand, though Sonny could see he was having difficulty. He didn't help.

“Of course”, Sonny smiled through his anger.

“It was good seeing you again, Lord Matise,” he said, bowing his head once more as he struggled to stand. Somewhere in his body, there was pop, though Sonny couldn’t pinpoint which part of the anatomy might have been responsible.

“And you,” Sonny replied, returning the bow. “Just one more thing, Oso. I’m aware you always travel with your entire family.”

“Always, my Lord”

Sonny stood at the answer, allowing his imposing frame to dwarf the man even across the desk.

“Next time you arrive at my port without notice, I will throw your ship and your entire bloodline into a star, understood?” He was unable to help himself, and for the first time, Sonny saw the man’s eyes. He drank in the terror.

“Apologies, my Lord. It will not happen again,” he stammered, again bowing. It was one of the benefits of being a miscreant House Head. When you threatened someone in the structure, they believed you.

“You are dismissed, High Chancellor.” Sonny sat back in his chair, eventually turning it to an angle to look out of the large viewport, staring out into space. He could no longer watch Oso labour his way to the door.

Yeley, he thought, that world, and all that it meant. Once Oso had left the room and the doors closed once more, he spoke, “Jax.” She arrived before he had finished saying her name,

“What did he want?” she asked eagerly. Then she saw the envelope, “Oh shit.” she said, out of character her eyes widening at the seal.

“Get the idiots” Once again, she vanished, but this time arrived back with two men. One in a towel wrapped around his waist, and one that must have been sitting down to eat when she transported him. He fell over as he arrived with a fork still in his hand, with some noodles dangling. His only reaction was to lie on the floor, legs and arms up in the air, looking at the fork. He had been transported enough to know what had happened, and now was merely angry that he had never got any warning. The one in the towel just saluted.

“Lord Sonny!” Top shouted, with his hand pressed to his forehead.

“It’s midday. Why are you in a towel?” Sonny asked, drawing a look from Jax.

“Apologies, my lord,” he replied, his eyes looking at least three feet above Sonny’s head. He offered nothing more.

“Alright, Jam?” Sonny asked the man on the floor, still staring at the remnants of his lost lunch.

The two men could not be more opposite. Jam was dark-featured, spoke slowly and always seemed to have his eyes halfway closed. Top was a labrador, blonde, with a permanent smile, and always filled with energy. Everything was fun for Top.

“Peachy,” said Jam from the floor, glaring at Jax, who ignored him.

“What did he want?” Jax repeated. Sonny filled the other two in before starting. Jam mentioned that he saw the ship coming in, and he had suspected that they were all going to be arrested. He didn't clarify what for. Then, after a ‘yes, yes, yes’ from Jax, Sonny continued,

“The Houses are looking to overthrow the Traes on Yeley” he didn't stop at Jax’s expression as she was the only one who knew what this actually meant. “I haven't heard nearly enough about this, I need you two to find out what is happening there. All we know is that there are some riots, and Oso mentioned that there is the threat of a coup, though I don't think we can believe that.”

“You want us to go meet with the Traes?” asked Jam, at his usual slow pace.

“We can’t”, Sonny said, tapping the paper envelope. “We have been barred from even making contact, even from representatives. Do not contact anyone from the planet, or involved with the planet, use your wiley ways and find out what the hell is going on here” he added, in reaction to the look that he was now getting from the three of them at the difficulty of finding out what was happening on a planet, without being able to interact with anyone associated with said planet.

“Jax, contact Culpa” he received a curt nod and knew he didn't need to say anything more.

Frederico Culpa, his own High Chancellor, was someone he would love to set on Oso. The only problem was, Sonny always worried about which side Culpa would play. He needed him now, though.

“He needs to get us some answers. I also want him to find any legal way out of this,” he said, pointing at the envelope. He didn't have high hopes for that, though.

“We need to meet with Victoria,” he said, still only to Jax, “But I need to go there with something. I don't know if she is already in the loop or not, but knowing the Eshara, she knows. We will need to hold her off. She will take the Houses on herself if we aren’t careful here. Get me those things.”

“Yes, Lord Sonny!” bellowed Top. Sonny closed his eyes.

“What are we looking for, exactly?” asked Jam, shaking his head at his compatriot.

“I don’t know just yet”, he lied. He may have trusted Jam and Top, but this was something that he could not allow even them to know. “Find out why this is so important to the Houses that a fucking envelope was delivered. Check what’s happening with the Dorlec in particular,” feeling proud at the faces they pulled when he mentioned that House. “There is something else happening here,” they nodded.

“Ma’am”, Top said in Jax’s direction, slightly uncomfortable, “It’s quite far to my quarters”, looking at his towel, then looking at the door. She grabbed him by the shoulder and vanished, arriving back in a second. She looked at Jam, who held his arms out and just said,

“I’ll walk.”

“Send word as soon as you have anything,” and with that, Jam made his way out of the room, already using their comms to make calls. Sonny heard him trying to explain to the person on his comm why he hadn't spoken to them for so long. They were idiots, but they were resourceful and effective. Most good smugglers were.

He could see that Jax was boring a hole into the side of his head, but he didn't look, wanting to think for a moment.

“Does Oso know?” she asked quietly.

“Get us a meeting with Victoria”, he said, turning to her. She nodded and vanished from sight once more, leaving Sonny in his office alone. He could feel his hangover more than ever now, and picked up the small glass that Jax had given him and finished it. There was no way that this was going to end well.