"Time to wake up, Lana."

"Hmm?" Rahn said as she stirred from a deep sleep.

"We need you to wake up."

She recognized that voice but she couldn't quite place it. "What did you give me? I can't move." She said in a slurred voice.

"It should be wearing off, you can fight it. Come on." The male's large hands grabbed Rahn's upper arms and lifted her up into a sitting position.

She blinked several times and eventually was able to focus on the person in front of her. "... Butok?"

"There she is." He smirked.

"How did I get here?" She looked around at a fairly bland room with the bed she had been sleeping on, a dresser positioned as a side table and a bench at the foot of the bed. "Where is... here?"

"So many questions." He shook his head. "In time. First, let's get you up and ready."

"Ready?"

"It's been a couple days. You stink."

"Days?!" She stood as he reached out a hand to help her up.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Someone got a little overzealous with the sleeping tonic they gave you. Add the time you spent in holding at the facility and it's been quite a while since you had a good wash. Let's get you cleaned up."

He led her to an adjoining bathroom and pointed to where she could find clean towels and hygiene products before leaving the room, letting her know he'd be just outside the bedroom door when she was ready. She was confused at how accommodating he was being but she wasn't going to question it yet. She could use a good shower to help clear her head.

After allowing herself a much longer shower than usual, she dressed in the generic pants and tunic left for her on the bed and then decided to look more closely at her surroundings. There was no window in the bathroom but there was a small one in the corner of the bedroom, just above the dresser. As quietly as she could, she climbed onto the dresser to peek out. There were a few homes scattered around, with a small field behind them and a large forest beyond. She knew she wasn't near the heart of the city but other than that, she could literally be anywhere.

She climbed back down and after not finding anything else of note she opened her door and took a step out of the room.

"Feel better?" Butok asked her.

She nodded. "Very much so."

"Ok, let's go." He turned and began walking down the short hallway.

"I imagine there's no point in asking you questions?"

He simply shook his head and continued walking. He led her into a living room area with a large sofa and a few arm chairs with a large sofa table in the middle. There were more windows in this room but they were covered with semi-sheer curtains that let light in but blocked the view of the outside. Or blocked anyone's view of the inside, she mentally noted.

Butok motioned for her to take a seat and one of the arm chairs, and he sat in the seat to her left.

After several minutes of silence, she spoke. "I'm getting déjà vu here." She chuckled dryly.

"Don't worry." Butok chuckled.

A few moments later Plar, the female Rahn had reported to in the underground bunker, walked in and took a seat in the armchair opposite them.

"You are looking much better, I see. That's good." The woman nodded to Rahn, and then to Butok, who nodded at her in return. "I hope your time over the last several days hasn't been too taxing on you?" The woman asked.

Rahn paused before responding. "No... All things considered, it wasn't too bad. It could have been worse."

"Good." The woman leaned back and rested her arms on the armrest of her chair. "I'm sure you're wondering why you were brought here."

"I am wondering about a lot of things." Rahn mused

The woman chuckled. "I have no doubt. First, how about some refreshments? I'm sure you could use them. And just to show you we mean you no harm, I'll pour myself the first glass. It's just water."

Rahn watched as the woman poured herself water into a small mug from the large pitcher on the table. Given that she had been asleep for the last two days, Rahn quickly leaned forward and poured herself a glass as well, taking several large gulps.

"How about we start by telling us what you know. Then perhaps I can fill in some pieces and then explain why we brought you here.

"How about you just pretend I don't know anything and fill it all in for me?"

The woman watched Rahn for a long moment, her face impassive, before she spoke again. "Very well. As you know, there is an organization here in the homeland that has been working behind the scenes, recruiting Qarthans with similar interests. Our specialty is manipulating situations in order to make them work toward our goals."

"And what goals would that be?"

The woman nodded. "That is why you're here, actually. But a little history first. The organization has been a part of the homeland, almost as long as the royal family. And I'm sure you find that hard to believe."

Rahn nodded.

"We have been working behind the scenes, very discreetly. It has always been the way. Do what we need, only when it is needed, and do all we can to avoid detection. Very subtle nudges when the timing is right. Certain words in the right person's ear to help lead them to the right conclusions, for example. However..." The woman paused to take a sip of her water. "In more recent years, the organization has had leadership changes that led to some very drastic changes. We have grown in numbers, more drastically and more quickly than ever before. With these changes, and with the higher numbers..."

"You got more bold and more sloppy." Rahn commented. "An attempted assassination on the premier along with kidnapping of much of the royal family a few months later, isn't exactly discreet."

The female nodded. "We have always existed to simply make little nudges here and there, to help things along in the path we felt they should go. Sometimes we are in line with how the premier wishes things to go, but we have our ways to ensure the outcomes we wish in the times that they do not align. That being said, even when we are not in line with the way of the Premier, we have always been an organization wanting to ensure the harmony and prosperity of our people. Assassinations, kidnappings,... These things are not our way. As I'm sure you can imagine, not everyone agreed with these changes to the organization."

"I'll take it you two are devoted to the older ways?" Rahn asked.

They both nodded. "Yes. There has been a division from within. Those of the old ways and those of the new. That division, along with the tension it creates, has grown quite large in the past several months. A time of separation proved to be inevitable."

"And that time is now, I'm assuming."

"They were lucky they had only provided support to Zein before, so only his men were arrested. This time they got so bold as to kidnap part of the royal family and bring them back to not one but two of our main facilities." The female shook her head as if in disbelief. "Extremely foolish."

"They got too bold, too quickly. We knew it was a disaster waiting to happen, they would slip up and it would be the downfall for all of us. So we made preparations to separate ourselves, and made sure our people, and any evidence of our people, would be nowhere near the facilities when the bottom fell out."

Rahn had to admit, she had also thought the way everything went down was a bit... amateur. She had managed to escape twice with little to no resistance. But instead of voicing these thoughts she simply nodded and posed her questions. "How many people are in the organization, and how many people are on the side of the old ways?"

The female glanced at Butok and they seemed to have a silent conversation through their eye contact. The female sighed. "There's no need to give you specifics."

Meaning, there's no benefit to them to share that information, Rahn surmised.

"Now, as to why we've brought you here. We, of course, knew you were a guard the entire time."

Rahn raised his brow muscles in question.

"And you're wondering why we engaged with you in the first place."

Rahn nodded slowly.

"We needed to watch you, to interact with you. We needed to decide if we could trust you."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"White formal dresses? Really?"

Ashima nodded in confirmation to Thala as the females of the family were all gathered around a sitting area on the Royal courtyard. The males were on the other side, having their own conversation.

"That's the tradition in the culture where I was born. I believe at some point it came about as a representation of purity, that the bride has saved themselves, um... physically, for their spouse."

"Woah, Kietnan was right! Your face does change color!" Halan chuckled. "Look, now it's getting even brighter."

Ashima cleared her throat. "However, um...as I've explained to Kietnan, there are many different cultures on Earth. Many different marriage traditions. Many different governments."

"What?! Really?" Biechta asked in surprise.

"Mm hmm. There are some other nations that wear very vibrant and colorful wedding gowns and some nations where women are covered from head to toe, the only part of them visible is their eyes. Only their husband is allowed to see them."

"Woah." Halan sighed. "So many different cultures on one planet seems exhausting to keep up with."

"It could be, I'm sure. But most people never even travel to other nations or if they do, it's simply for a short visit and they don't necessarily need to read up on all of the intricacies of the culture just for a few days."

"Interesting."

"So what is the traditional attire for the male and female getting partnered here on Domu?" Ashima asked.

"We do have some varying elements based on the quadrant the couple is in, or if they're here in the homeland. The weather and terrain is so different in each that the resources there do play a part in many aspects of life." Thala explained.

"While we are able to regulate our body temperatures and do not need to alter our attire as drastically as humans do, attire is still affected by the conditions." Halan continued. "Wool is more readily available for those in the southern quadrant while cotton is more common to the west, and silk to the east."

"Ah, I see." Ashima said. "I can't wait to see the different quadrants and their varying clothing, climates, and terrains."

"I am taking my ever so curious partner to visit the four quadrants during our leave following our ceremony." Kietnan said as he approached the women, standing behind his partner and giving her a slight smile.

"That sounds lovely." Biechta commented before continuing quietly. "I've seen so little in my life."

"Perhaps you and Othen can do the same after your ceremony." Halan suggested.

"Our...?!" Biechta took a deep breath in surprise. "We've not... he hasn't."

"Calm down, Bi." Ashima laughed. "She's joking with you."

"Maybe." Halan shrugged. "I think we all know where their relationship is headed."

They all chuckled as Biechta sat there speechless.

"I hope you are all not terrorizing Biechta." Othen said as he approached, standing behind where she was sitting.

Ashima was sure if Qarthans could blush, Biechta's face would be as bright as a tomato right now.

"Oh, we were just discussing partnering ceremonies, or weddings, as they are called where I am from.

"Oh, I see." Othen nodded. Are there many differences between our customs and yours?

"Oh, many. But there are some similarities as well. I actually have been meaning to speak with you, Othen. Or, we have been meaning to." She grabbed Kietnan's hand as he joined them. "I know there are many fine musicians here in the grand hall, but it would just be so much more meaningful to us if you could perform something at our ceremony."

"Oh?" Othen asked as everyone turned to look at Kietnan.

"I still want you standing by my side, brother. I wouldn't think to remove you, of course. However, Ashima assures me that it is common in these weddings on her planet for one of the family to simply walk over and perform something, and then when they are done they return standings by the bride and groom's side."

"Oh. Well, in that case, I would be honored."

"Wonderful!" Ashima clasped her hands in excitement.

"My son." Thala commented as she looked sternly at Kietnan. "Why do you keep looking nervously towards your eldest brother?" At the question, they all turned and looked at Kahal who was talking with Joreth and Japheth, a stern look on his face.

Kietnan seemed hesitant to answer. "He is a bit frustrated at the moment. Perhaps I should return to the conversation."

Thala opened her mouth to ask more, but Kietnan quickly crossed the room to avoid answering any more questions. Kahal's love life was a bit of a sore subject between Kahal and the queen, and Kietnan didn't want to get in the middle of it. Besides, he didn't really know what Kahal had decided on the matter, or how Rahn would react. It wasn't his place to announce anything that might not happen.

Thala turned to Othen for answers, but he quickly followed his younger brother.

"I don't suppose any of you ladies know what's going on?" Thala asked instead.

"Rahn, the guard who had been working undercover and was kidnapped with us and then helped everyone escape, has yet to be found." Halan filled her in.

"Yes, I know, but..." Thala turned and looked at her eldest son who was clearly angry and distraught. "...I see."