Editing Story:ROAD TRIP! (Warhammer High)/Part Three (section)

===Anger and Hope===

Venus walked out of the Governor’s mansion and straight up to Carlin’s car as the party started to break up.  She was only waiting a minute before Carlin emerged.  “Lord Carlin.  What was that altercation with your son earlier?” she asked.

Carlin moved to pass her.  “An internal matter of the Kimball-Carlin trade fleet,” he said.

Venus’ hand shot out and grabbed his elbow.  “I beg to differ,” she said coldly.  “Because tonight, you made it our business too.”

Carlin tried to pull his arm away and found it locked in a death grip.  “This does not concern you, your Highness,” he grated.  He tugged at his arm, and this time Venus squeezed, as hard as her super-human anatomy would allow.  Carlin gasped in surprise and sudden discomfort.

“Wrong,” Venus bit off.  Her eyes flared to a frightening red.  “Listen carefully, Carlin, because I don’t feel like repeating myself.  Your unwanted presence in MY star system has been hanging over this entire trip, and Alex has been resenting every second of it, thoroughly torpedoing an effort that I had hoped would make a good endcap to a very, very shitty Senior Year of high school.”  Her grip creaked on his arm.  “So if you are still present in this system, or, if you’re an even bigger idiot than you look, the Fenris system when next I check, I will personally approve your internment by the Legion, for as long as I care to.  Is that anything other than crystal clear?”

Carlin snarled, but even enraged he knew not to defy a Lady Primarch.  “No…your Highness.”

Venus tossed his arm aside with casual disgust, and reached into the opening door of the car to extract Alex’s bag of possessions.  As she emerged, she skewered the seething Rogue Trader with a withering glare.  “I mean it, Carlin.  This was supposed to be a chance for Alex to relax and get away from home, and he specifically told you so before he left.  Make tracks, or learn to like prison food.”

Without another word, she tossed the bag over her shoulder and walked up to where the Governor was nervously waiting.  Seeing the burning anger in her eyes, he immediately dropped to one knee.  “Your Highness, I must offer my apologies for the behavior of my guest.  If I had known he had been instructed not to be here, I would have not have invited him,” he said, contrition and apology etched on his face.  “And for these crimes to have further spoiled your time…I am profoundly sorry.”

Venus drew herself up, eyes flashing.  “Governor, I would have you implement my boyfriend’s suggestions, regarding the reduction of this crime spree.  As for the behavior of Lord Trader Carlin, his faults have been addressed by my own hand, and he will not trouble us again if he wishes to breathe clean air.”  She glared down at Sralah.  “However, with incident after incident intruding on our time on this world, I am beginning to wonder if perhaps I should have spent the trip elsewhere, which is the LAST feeling I wished to have on this venture.  Need I go into detail?”

“Certainly not, your Highness!” the Governor said, scrambling to his feet, and paling a bit.  “How may I rectify it?”

Venus scoffed.  “Right now, it’s probably too late to implement new measures in time for the rest of the trip.  I suspect we will simply make a point of visiting only those areas of the city and its environment that are deemed secure by the Enforcers, however few that may be.”  She added the final barb with a chilling directness.  “Until then…farewell.”  She turned on her heel and walked back to where the diplomatic car had returned, leaving the Governor staring at her cape.

Kines and Remilia were standing beside the car already, and Venus slowed to grant them a moment’s quiet.  “Well, Remilia, I’m sorry things took a turn for the sour,” Kines said ruefully.

Remilia nodded in agreement, her face glum.  “Me too.”  She looked up at him, shrugging.  “Well, I’m sure things will calm down on the ship.”  She smiled slightly.  “So…which of the four things wasn’t true?”

“Pardon?”

“Back when I saw you after you arrived.  Which of the four wasn’t true?” Remilia asked.

Kines thought back.  “Uh, the part about having to drive Haarlan back to the starport,” he said.  The obvious implication, that he really wanted to see her again, brought a hint of pink to her cheeks.

“Well…that’s nice of you,” she said, feeling a funny sensation she hadn’t felt in a while running through her.  Kines, obviously, noticed.  He nervously grinned.  Venus’ eyes followed them back and forth, her eyebrows slowly rising in mirth.

“I…suspect we won’t see each other until you’re ready to depart for Fenris, ma’am…Remilia, so for now, at least, goodbye,” he said.  She reached over and squeezed his hand, then quickly turned it into an awkward hug.

Venus bit her lip.  Kines flushed deep red and took a step back.  “In case Haarlan’s watching, let’s pretend you just fell,” he said nervously.

“R-right,” she said.  She slid into the car.  “Uh, goodnight, Lieutenant.”

“Good night, ma’am,” Kines said.  He stared at her a moment longer before turning and nearly bumping into Venus.  “Oh!  Sorry, ma’am, didn’t see you there,” he quickly apologized.

Venus offered up a sly, encouraging little smile.  “It’s nice to see Remilia happy again,” she said off-handedly, as Jake climbed into the car too.

“Well, I’d…hmm.”  Kines shrugged awkwardly.  “I suppose it is,” he said.

Venus winked.  “Uh huh.  You keep yourself out of trouble, now, Lieutenant,” she said, following Jake into the car.

Remilia was cradling her hand where she had shaken Kines’, staring out the window into the setting red sun.  Venus closed the door and the car took off.  Jake managed to keep his mouth shut.  Venus didn’t.

“Remilia.”

She turned her head to look at her cousin, apprehensive.  “That was adorable,” Venus continued.

“Shush,” Remilia grumbled.  She suddenly looked upright.  “Oh man, you don’t think Haarlan was really watching, do you?  I don’t want him to get in trouble.”

“Haarlan was already in his car,” Jake said.  “I think you’re good.”

Remilia sighed.  “All right.”  She sat back in her seat, looking for some safer topic.  “So…what do we have planned for the rest of the trip?” she asked.

“Nothing, we can do whatever,” Venus said.  She clenched a fist.  “But after that scumbag Carlin…I think I’m going to call in a favor, really go all-out with you guys.  We deserve SOMETHING good in this city,” she said darkly.

“A favor?  With who?  You’ve never been to Skarokk before,” Jake pointed out.

“Not personally.”  She leaned forward.  “You guys will love it.  Trust me.”

Freya’s eye snapped open at the sound of Venus’ voice in the hall.  She very slowly disentangled herself from Alex and padded over to the door, opening it a crack.  “Guys?” she whispered.

Venus turned to look at her and passed her Alex’s bag.  “Alex’s stuff.”

Freya nodded.  “Carlin?”

“Gone by sunrise if he doesn’t want to get arrested,” Venus replied under her breath.  Freya nodded.

“Good.  See you when…” she glanced over at Alex.  “When he’s ready.”

“Take good care of him, now,” Venus whispered solemnly.  “No plans for tomorrow.  Take as long as he needs.”

“I will,” Freya promised with a sad little smile.  How fitting that people who were little more than aliens to most humans could care for Alex more than his own blood relatives, she thought.

Venus mouthed ‘good night’ and made into her room, with Jake and Remilia dispersing as well.  Freya closed the door and set the bag down.  As she did, however, the battery in his vox beeped to signify its dying charge, and Alex awoke.

“Whu?” he asked.  Freya was at his side in an instant, gently kissing his forehead.

“Shhh, baby, it’s just the others coming back from the party.”

“Mmm.”  Alex settled back down as Freya curled up next to him.  He shifted partway, leaning over her.  “Freya…do you think I’m…stupid?” he asked blearily.

“Of course not, why would I do that?” she asked softly.

“Because I am…I went and saw the bastard this afternoon…after I promised myself…that I wouldn’t,” he muttered.  “Asshole probably planned this entire thing…preyed on my…wanting him to…to…” he trailed off as he choked up again.

Freya squeezed her eyes shut to ward off bitter tears.  “Alex, I love you, and your mother loves you, and Venus and Jake and Remilia love you.  That’s good too, right?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Alex sighed in her ear.  “Mom’s flat broke in Startseite…after he cut her off.”  He was quiet for a moment.  “But…yeah.  You guys are great.”  He slid his hand over her arm, pulling her into a spoon.  “Hey…I’m tired,” he managed.  “You mind if I just…sleep through whatever, tomorrow?”

She snuggled her back against him, letting his arm drape over her breasts in a comforting hug.  “For as long as you want, Alex,” she whispered.

“Mmm.”  He sighed, resting his head on the pile of her braids that spilled out from behind her head.  “I love you, Freya.”

She clasped his hand with both of her own, letting her warmth lull him to sleep once more.  “I love you too, Alex,” she murmured.