Eta#01: Lilac (Mother by Lob)
Title: Mother
Author: Lob
Fandom: Starfighter
Pairing: Cain x Abel
Theme: eta #01: Lilac
Rating: Adults because the fandom is an 18+ webcomic
Warning: fairly tame this time; language
Summary: Abel's interview Part 11/30
Disclaimer: Starfighter belongs to Hamletmachine.
The moment Ethan entered the public liaison's office, he expected to see his mother. The perfume in the air, his mother's favorite, reminded him of sitting near her in the limousine or talking with her after school. Resisting the urge to dash into the office, he realized he may not want to meet the person wearing the perfume. He stepped forward slowly while Cain crowded up behind him.
The desk where a secretary might sit was empty, but the doorway must have been monitored as a woman's voice called out to Ethan. "This way, Mr. Whitelaw." Cain sat down, crossed his arms over his chest, and placed his feet on a nearby low table before closing his eyes.
Ethan followed the voice to the inner office. There had only been one name mentioned with the appointment: Troy. Ethan hadn't been sure if that was a first or last name, however he had been foolishly certain the liaison would be a man.
"Ms. Troy?" Ethan was surprised to see the woman appeared to be much younger than his mother, not to mention that he found himself wanting to relax around her almost immediately. None the less, Cain had been too vague on whether Troy was the contact or not, and had implied they would be watched the whole time while at Port Royal as he insisted on everyone sticking to the roles they had taken on.
"Please call me Diane." She smiled, holding out her hand. "May I call you Ethan?" Ethan nodded although he could feel a blush creeping onto his cheeks as he shook her soft, smooth hand. Ethan found himself wanting to chuckle at his own relief that Diane looked nothing like his mother. Ms. Troy's mocha skin and curly dark brown hair did point to a Terran heritage, and Ethan was tempted to ask her when she had last visited Earth.
"Would you like a drink?" She gestured to a small cart near her desk. "There is coffee and tea available as well as a small selection of fruit juices."
"Thank you." After pouring a cup of coffee, Ethan sat down across from Ms. Troy. He admired the tastefully etched carafe on her desk as Ms. Troy picked up the carafe to pour herself a glass of water.
"We must cover the legal formalities before we begin." Ethan nodded as he focused on Ms. Troy's eyes. "This interview is being recorded for the elected board officials. Granting this interview does not guarantee you will be chosen to race at La Vita Dolce." Ethan nodded at appropriate times as Ms. Troy continued to speak. When the list was completed she asked, "Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Ms. Troy's lips pouted in distaste, but Ethan couldn't help it. After all, he had been raised in what most would consider a painfully formal family.
"Any questions?"
"No, Diane."
"Very good. Let's begin the interview."
Ms. Troy inquired about Ethan's pilot training and experience. Cain had been posing similar questions to him all day yesterday, and Ethan casually offered up the basic answers with no embellishments.
He told her of his days as a pilot apprentice with the colonial convoys and how his outstanding skills and his problem solving abilities during emergencies had allowed him to advance quickly to qualified pilot. However, as he met her serene gaze, Ethan found himself wanting to tell her more than he should, longing to confide in her. The more time he spent talking with her, the sense she knew and sympathized with all his secrets increased steadily. It was unnerving to say the least. For some reason her lilac perfume seemed to become overbearingly sweet at this time.
"Why do you wish to be sponsored by Tahoma Conglomerate, Ethan?"
Ethan didn't falter, yet it was if he felt Cain's hands ghosting over him. His cock thickened as the eagerness and passion for Cain's touch warmed him. "I'm the best. I can win the race." He let his very real desire to enter the race shine as he smiled at her.
"I certainly can't fault your confidence or enthusiasm. Are you trying to prove something to your father?"
Ethan's lips twitch before he could speak. "Only that I will never be a politician." The question about his father was unexpected, had even stung a little, but Ethan let it slide away. Diana remained silent as Ethan watched her scrutinize him. He considered saying more about his father, like how the man had never cared about his son's interests or goals, but a little voice inside him screamed "red alert". As Ethan felt his smile begin to falter, he let something of a sneer take its place: a sneer which would have been more at home on Cain's face. Taking a sip of his coffee, Ethan found the biggest temptation was to turn to Cain for confirmation. Now he was thankful Cain had remained in the waiting room. This was between him and Ms. Troy.
Ms. Troy stood up abruptly and held out her hand. "I believe we are finished, Ethan. The Board will review the vid of your interview and make their decision within the next eight hours. Do you have any last questions?"
Standing up, Ethan shook Ms. Troy's hand once again. "May I ask why the Board waited until the last week to choose a pilot?"
"They wanted a large selection of pilots to pick from. I might ask why you waited until the last minute to apply."
"It was a snap decision on my part. My crew brought the race to my attention even though I had been looking into joining the convoy run from the Altair jumpgate to Colony 24B."
"I've heard that is one of the most difficult and dangerous runs in that sector. No doubt they need skilled pilots. So your crew changed your mind?" Ethan nodded once slowly. "Do you always listen to your crew?"
"They can be very insistent."
"Is that so." The knowing smile on Ms. Troy's face would have made Ethan blush and stammer only a few days ago. Now he just let it pass with a laugh. "Good day, Ethan. It was a pleasure talking with you. Interview complete." Ms. Troy pressed several buttons on her desk. "Recording de-activated. Room is secured from all surveillance."
Ethan followed Ms. Troy as she turned toward the now open office door. "If you have a moment, Diane, may I ask a personal --." Ms. Troy cut him off before he could finish his question.
"Cain, get in here. We only have about ten minutes before someone decides he needs me to attend another boring meeting."
Cain rushed in with a smile. He breezed right past Ethan to hug Ms. Troy and kiss her quickly on both cheeks. Ms. Troy pushed him away gently. "C'mon admit it," Cain said. "You've missed me," Cain turned around to sling his arm over Ethan's shoulders. "Did you ace the interview, Flyboy?" Ethan didn't even flinch when Cain slid his hand under Ethan's jacket to pinch one of Ethan's nipples through his shirt. He merely reached up to tickle Cain in a spot close to his right arm pit where Ethan knew Cain was surprisingly sensitive to being caressed. In retaliation, Cain put Ethan in a somewhat painful headlock.
"Stop showing off, Cain. We need to discuss the next step in the mission." Cain, looking almost as eager as when the red alert sounded back on the starbase, pulled another chair up to the desk before sitting down while Ms. Troy continued. "Ethan's interview went very well, and I'll do all I can to convince the board that he is the best pilot for the CapCorp race."
Ethan stared at Cain. "I thought you knew what this mission was all about."
Shaking his head, Cain laughed. "Only my now completed part -- finding the best, most daring pilot in the Alliance. So why is my team going to La Vita Dolce when the defensive blockade is constantly under attack?"
"Caprica is secretly working on ... a project."
Cain waved his hand like he was swatting away a fly. "No big news there. They don't share shit until they have something to sell people. What's different this time?"
"It is a weapon, perhaps, but most at Mother believe it to be a ship of some kind. Pilots are disappearing. Caprica's best pilots are too well known and have not been targeted, although some of their own convoy pilots have been reported missing. But some of the winners and other participants in the race Ethan seeks to enter have gone missing. In the last forty years, only a few bodies have turned up. Several colony pilots were also found in remote hospitals with memory loss or a specific type of brain damage."
"Fuck! I don't like the sound of this," Cain muttered. "But at least we know the score, and Ethan has a good team backing him. What took Mother so long to see the pattern?"
Ms. Troy paused to take a sip of water. "Willful denial and the lack of strong oracles. The men who enter races like the one at Dolce are well known risk-takers. They are bound to die early. The Alliance has discretely inquired into Caprica's latest projects, however its executives are deft at redirecting. Caprica also says they have police looking for these so-called 'missing' pilots, but will not provide any proof. Of course neither the Alliance nor the Earth government are allowed to send an investigation team to the territory. In fact Caprica will not condone any woman associated with Mother inside its borders."
Something didn't make sense to Ethan. "Why would they even have to be there? I thought the psychic abilities allowed the oracles to view or discern what is happening from back on Earth."
"There are different types of oracles and psychics within Mother. Most do not need to be near a person or a situation to get a proper reading, some do."
That was when it clicked for Ethan. "Are you an operative of Mother?" Ethan frowned when Ms. Troy blatantly ignored his question.
"Mother believes the weapon-ship being developed will put too much power in Caprica's hands. They might defeat the Colteron's, but they might also provoke the Colteron Dominion into a desperate all out effort to breach the blockade to annihilate Earth and her Colonies. Mother's oracles shudder and weep when they seek to view this possible future."
Ms. Troy placed both hands against the polished surface of her desk. "Cain, Ethan is sure to be 'recruited' by CapCorp. We need to know exactly what is going on. And if necessary your team will destroy the lab and any facilities connected with the secret research."
"Understood." Cain launched himself out of the chair. "We'll be on the ship until the Board announces its decision." With a cocky grin Cain said, "See you around, Diane." Cain turned to saunter off towards the door. It wasn't until he reached the doorway that he paused in the realization Ethan had not followed him.
"One more minute please, Diane. Before Cain and I leave, I'd like to ask you about the perfume you're wearing. My mother wears the same brand. Is it for sale here at Port Royal? I'd like to buy some ... for her."
Ms. Troy frowned at him. Even Cain looked perplexed as he made a show of sniffing the air. "She's not wearing any perfume. I think you've been away from women for too long, Princess."
"Cain is correct." Cain hooted as he slapped his own thigh. "Hmmm, in that I am not wearing perfume or cologne."
"An air-freshener perhaps?" Ms. Troy shook her head. Now Ethan really felt like he was grasping at straws. "Does your secretary wear perfume?"
"No, he doesn't. Besides I'm allergic to strong artificial scents."
Ethan didn't like feeling delusional, but he couldn't let this go easily. "There was definitely something in the air during the interview. The scent is one my mother wore all the time. I know I'm not just missing her or Earth."
Ms. Troy's regard turned icy, and Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine. She stood up, tall and regal, as her eyes held Ethan's gaze. To Ethan, she could have been drilling a hole through his head with such a sharp expression. It was then the room seemed to flood with the scent of lilacs.
"There!" He broke eye contact so he could face his partner. "Cain you must be able to smell it now."
Cain shook his head, looking as if he thought Ethan was crazy. Then the scent was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
"Ethan, how much do you know about your mother's life before she married Senator Whitelaw?" Ms. Troy patted at her hair even though there was not a strand out of place as far as Ethan could tell.
After a quick shrug of his shoulders Ethan said,"She doesn't like to talk about that part of her life as far as I can tell. She would never go into detail and was superb at changing the subject." Ethan met Ms. Troy's glower with one of his own. "Why do you ask?"
"What I'm about to tell you is only known by a select group of people. I would be tried and executed for treason if I leaked this info to the public." Upon breathing out a gentle sigh, Ms. Troy sat back down. Her skin looked ashen compared to only a few seconds ago. "Your mother isn't who you think she is. Elizabeth was -- is -- should have been one of the most powerful oracles within Mother. Her life was meant to be dedicated to Mother."
Ms. Troy shook her head. "You have never met your maternal grandparents." To Ethan's ears, Ms Troy was merely stating a fact instead of asking a simple question. "I doubt you have even seen pictures of them."
Ethan dipped his chin in agreement. "You're right. My mother said they died before I was born. I never pry because she always seems so sad when they are mentioned or inquired after."
"It is the truth, in a fashion, because your mother's biological parents died over 120 years ago."
Ethan scoffed at her words. "What? You can't be serious."
"Your mother is a clone of one the most powerful oracles Earth has ever known. Her death ... Well, some say suicide, a few years before the start of the Colteron War left a ragged void in Mother."
Returning to stand behind Ethan's chair, Cain leaned over him, his hands heavy on Ethan's shoulders. "I don't get you, Diane. All he asks about is some stupid imaginary perfume, and you turn around and slap him upside the head with this huge secret about his mother. What's the deal?"
"I believe he needs to understand what has occurred to him today. You, Ethan, are what Mother would call a tracer. There is a small percentage of men within Earth's population who have the ability to sense when psychic powers are being used. Some see auras, some detect a scent as you do and some report having their senses affected in other ways." Steepling her fingers, Ms. Troy paused briefly as if to collect her thoughts. "It is fortunate for you that your father never discovered your talent. You would have been chained to his side instead of being held by the ineffectual leash you managed to slip away from."
Ethan noticed Ms. Troy's hand tremble slightly when she took another drink of water. "There are plans being developed by Mother and the Earth's government to scour the colonies for women with psychic power by using teams of tracers. You should be on one of those teams, Ethan."
Ethan looked up at Cain when he felt his partner's fingertips dig into his shoulders. Cain looked furious and Ethan wondered what exactly was upsetting him.
"It's one thing to volunteer for the Alliance. But you're telling us they'll take these girls whether or not they want to be part of Mother?"
Ms. Troy nodded. "Earth is desperate. Genetic manipulation increased the psychic ability of Terran women to the point that the government and the military have grown to rely on Mother's directions, but it is my belief that the genetic pool has become stagnant because no oracles were discovered on Earth in the last ten years. In fact, being a strong psychic is now looked on as a curse. Couples are finding a multitude of reasons to avoid having their daughters tested, and most couples are electing to have sons."
"I can tell you right now the Colonies won't bend over and take it with a smile."
"All families will be compensated. A life bound to Mother is not an easy life, certainly more so during a war, but life in the Colonies is hard and never a sure thing."
"I just fucking bet they will," Cain said. "Most of the time Terrans stick their noses in the air and talk about the Colonies like they're discussing an inconveniently placed shit-pile."
Ms. Troy didn't even blink. "The plan was shelved indefinitely because the successful cloning of a powerful oracle had been hailed within Mother as a salvation, but as Elizabeth grew up she seemed to realize how her life was being manipulated. Mother believes Elizabeth chose to escape by using the Whitelaw's influence and powerful connections. Now, after meeting you,Ethan -- and learning more about you -- I wonder if your mother was following a greater plan." Ethan shivered uncontrollably as if ice water had been dumped over his head.
Cain abruptly punched Ethan in the arm hard enough that Ethan knew he would have a bruise there in the next hour or so. "Did you see that?" While jabbing his index finger at Ethan, Cain said, "This idiot already has a damn savior complex without you putting more weird ideas in his head, Diane."
When a tablet on her desk pinged, Ms. Troy picked up the tablet to tap and slide her finger over it a few times. "I must attend a meeting with the Executive Director. Please excuse me." Standing up, Ms. Troy tucked her tablet into the crook of her left elbow. "I do not know if you will be successful Ethan or if you will even survive, but I do believe you are the right man for this mission. Carefully consider what you have learned today."
By pressing a button on her desk, Ms. Troy opened the main door. "Enjoy your stay at Port Royal, Gentlemen." Ethan forced himself to stand up as he watched Ms. Troy stride away, her red skirt swaying like a warning flag in the wind. A minute lapsed as Ethan continued to stare at an empty doorway while he mentally tumbled in the waves of info which had crashed over him.
Cain's fingers brushed over Ethan's hair before tugging gently on a fistful of strands. "Let's go find Deimos and your girlfriend. They should be waiting for us in the lobby."
After a quick lift of his chin, Ethan walked out of the office door ahead of Cain.
Author: Lob
Fandom: Starfighter
Pairing: Cain x Abel
Theme: eta #01: Lilac
Rating: Adults because the fandom is an 18+ webcomic
Warning: fairly tame this time; language
Summary: Abel's interview Part 11/30
Disclaimer: Starfighter belongs to Hamletmachine.
The moment Ethan entered the public liaison's office, he expected to see his mother. The perfume in the air, his mother's favorite, reminded him of sitting near her in the limousine or talking with her after school. Resisting the urge to dash into the office, he realized he may not want to meet the person wearing the perfume. He stepped forward slowly while Cain crowded up behind him.
The desk where a secretary might sit was empty, but the doorway must have been monitored as a woman's voice called out to Ethan. "This way, Mr. Whitelaw." Cain sat down, crossed his arms over his chest, and placed his feet on a nearby low table before closing his eyes.
Ethan followed the voice to the inner office. There had only been one name mentioned with the appointment: Troy. Ethan hadn't been sure if that was a first or last name, however he had been foolishly certain the liaison would be a man.
"Ms. Troy?" Ethan was surprised to see the woman appeared to be much younger than his mother, not to mention that he found himself wanting to relax around her almost immediately. None the less, Cain had been too vague on whether Troy was the contact or not, and had implied they would be watched the whole time while at Port Royal as he insisted on everyone sticking to the roles they had taken on.
"Please call me Diane." She smiled, holding out her hand. "May I call you Ethan?" Ethan nodded although he could feel a blush creeping onto his cheeks as he shook her soft, smooth hand. Ethan found himself wanting to chuckle at his own relief that Diane looked nothing like his mother. Ms. Troy's mocha skin and curly dark brown hair did point to a Terran heritage, and Ethan was tempted to ask her when she had last visited Earth.
"Would you like a drink?" She gestured to a small cart near her desk. "There is coffee and tea available as well as a small selection of fruit juices."
"Thank you." After pouring a cup of coffee, Ethan sat down across from Ms. Troy. He admired the tastefully etched carafe on her desk as Ms. Troy picked up the carafe to pour herself a glass of water.
"We must cover the legal formalities before we begin." Ethan nodded as he focused on Ms. Troy's eyes. "This interview is being recorded for the elected board officials. Granting this interview does not guarantee you will be chosen to race at La Vita Dolce." Ethan nodded at appropriate times as Ms. Troy continued to speak. When the list was completed she asked, "Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Ms. Troy's lips pouted in distaste, but Ethan couldn't help it. After all, he had been raised in what most would consider a painfully formal family.
"Any questions?"
"No, Diane."
"Very good. Let's begin the interview."
Ms. Troy inquired about Ethan's pilot training and experience. Cain had been posing similar questions to him all day yesterday, and Ethan casually offered up the basic answers with no embellishments.
He told her of his days as a pilot apprentice with the colonial convoys and how his outstanding skills and his problem solving abilities during emergencies had allowed him to advance quickly to qualified pilot. However, as he met her serene gaze, Ethan found himself wanting to tell her more than he should, longing to confide in her. The more time he spent talking with her, the sense she knew and sympathized with all his secrets increased steadily. It was unnerving to say the least. For some reason her lilac perfume seemed to become overbearingly sweet at this time.
"Why do you wish to be sponsored by Tahoma Conglomerate, Ethan?"
Ethan didn't falter, yet it was if he felt Cain's hands ghosting over him. His cock thickened as the eagerness and passion for Cain's touch warmed him. "I'm the best. I can win the race." He let his very real desire to enter the race shine as he smiled at her.
"I certainly can't fault your confidence or enthusiasm. Are you trying to prove something to your father?"
Ethan's lips twitch before he could speak. "Only that I will never be a politician." The question about his father was unexpected, had even stung a little, but Ethan let it slide away. Diana remained silent as Ethan watched her scrutinize him. He considered saying more about his father, like how the man had never cared about his son's interests or goals, but a little voice inside him screamed "red alert". As Ethan felt his smile begin to falter, he let something of a sneer take its place: a sneer which would have been more at home on Cain's face. Taking a sip of his coffee, Ethan found the biggest temptation was to turn to Cain for confirmation. Now he was thankful Cain had remained in the waiting room. This was between him and Ms. Troy.
Ms. Troy stood up abruptly and held out her hand. "I believe we are finished, Ethan. The Board will review the vid of your interview and make their decision within the next eight hours. Do you have any last questions?"
Standing up, Ethan shook Ms. Troy's hand once again. "May I ask why the Board waited until the last week to choose a pilot?"
"They wanted a large selection of pilots to pick from. I might ask why you waited until the last minute to apply."
"It was a snap decision on my part. My crew brought the race to my attention even though I had been looking into joining the convoy run from the Altair jumpgate to Colony 24B."
"I've heard that is one of the most difficult and dangerous runs in that sector. No doubt they need skilled pilots. So your crew changed your mind?" Ethan nodded once slowly. "Do you always listen to your crew?"
"They can be very insistent."
"Is that so." The knowing smile on Ms. Troy's face would have made Ethan blush and stammer only a few days ago. Now he just let it pass with a laugh. "Good day, Ethan. It was a pleasure talking with you. Interview complete." Ms. Troy pressed several buttons on her desk. "Recording de-activated. Room is secured from all surveillance."
Ethan followed Ms. Troy as she turned toward the now open office door. "If you have a moment, Diane, may I ask a personal --." Ms. Troy cut him off before he could finish his question.
"Cain, get in here. We only have about ten minutes before someone decides he needs me to attend another boring meeting."
Cain rushed in with a smile. He breezed right past Ethan to hug Ms. Troy and kiss her quickly on both cheeks. Ms. Troy pushed him away gently. "C'mon admit it," Cain said. "You've missed me," Cain turned around to sling his arm over Ethan's shoulders. "Did you ace the interview, Flyboy?" Ethan didn't even flinch when Cain slid his hand under Ethan's jacket to pinch one of Ethan's nipples through his shirt. He merely reached up to tickle Cain in a spot close to his right arm pit where Ethan knew Cain was surprisingly sensitive to being caressed. In retaliation, Cain put Ethan in a somewhat painful headlock.
"Stop showing off, Cain. We need to discuss the next step in the mission." Cain, looking almost as eager as when the red alert sounded back on the starbase, pulled another chair up to the desk before sitting down while Ms. Troy continued. "Ethan's interview went very well, and I'll do all I can to convince the board that he is the best pilot for the CapCorp race."
Ethan stared at Cain. "I thought you knew what this mission was all about."
Shaking his head, Cain laughed. "Only my now completed part -- finding the best, most daring pilot in the Alliance. So why is my team going to La Vita Dolce when the defensive blockade is constantly under attack?"
"Caprica is secretly working on ... a project."
Cain waved his hand like he was swatting away a fly. "No big news there. They don't share shit until they have something to sell people. What's different this time?"
"It is a weapon, perhaps, but most at Mother believe it to be a ship of some kind. Pilots are disappearing. Caprica's best pilots are too well known and have not been targeted, although some of their own convoy pilots have been reported missing. But some of the winners and other participants in the race Ethan seeks to enter have gone missing. In the last forty years, only a few bodies have turned up. Several colony pilots were also found in remote hospitals with memory loss or a specific type of brain damage."
"Fuck! I don't like the sound of this," Cain muttered. "But at least we know the score, and Ethan has a good team backing him. What took Mother so long to see the pattern?"
Ms. Troy paused to take a sip of water. "Willful denial and the lack of strong oracles. The men who enter races like the one at Dolce are well known risk-takers. They are bound to die early. The Alliance has discretely inquired into Caprica's latest projects, however its executives are deft at redirecting. Caprica also says they have police looking for these so-called 'missing' pilots, but will not provide any proof. Of course neither the Alliance nor the Earth government are allowed to send an investigation team to the territory. In fact Caprica will not condone any woman associated with Mother inside its borders."
Something didn't make sense to Ethan. "Why would they even have to be there? I thought the psychic abilities allowed the oracles to view or discern what is happening from back on Earth."
"There are different types of oracles and psychics within Mother. Most do not need to be near a person or a situation to get a proper reading, some do."
That was when it clicked for Ethan. "Are you an operative of Mother?" Ethan frowned when Ms. Troy blatantly ignored his question.
"Mother believes the weapon-ship being developed will put too much power in Caprica's hands. They might defeat the Colteron's, but they might also provoke the Colteron Dominion into a desperate all out effort to breach the blockade to annihilate Earth and her Colonies. Mother's oracles shudder and weep when they seek to view this possible future."
Ms. Troy placed both hands against the polished surface of her desk. "Cain, Ethan is sure to be 'recruited' by CapCorp. We need to know exactly what is going on. And if necessary your team will destroy the lab and any facilities connected with the secret research."
"Understood." Cain launched himself out of the chair. "We'll be on the ship until the Board announces its decision." With a cocky grin Cain said, "See you around, Diane." Cain turned to saunter off towards the door. It wasn't until he reached the doorway that he paused in the realization Ethan had not followed him.
"One more minute please, Diane. Before Cain and I leave, I'd like to ask you about the perfume you're wearing. My mother wears the same brand. Is it for sale here at Port Royal? I'd like to buy some ... for her."
Ms. Troy frowned at him. Even Cain looked perplexed as he made a show of sniffing the air. "She's not wearing any perfume. I think you've been away from women for too long, Princess."
"Cain is correct." Cain hooted as he slapped his own thigh. "Hmmm, in that I am not wearing perfume or cologne."
"An air-freshener perhaps?" Ms. Troy shook her head. Now Ethan really felt like he was grasping at straws. "Does your secretary wear perfume?"
"No, he doesn't. Besides I'm allergic to strong artificial scents."
Ethan didn't like feeling delusional, but he couldn't let this go easily. "There was definitely something in the air during the interview. The scent is one my mother wore all the time. I know I'm not just missing her or Earth."
Ms. Troy's regard turned icy, and Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine. She stood up, tall and regal, as her eyes held Ethan's gaze. To Ethan, she could have been drilling a hole through his head with such a sharp expression. It was then the room seemed to flood with the scent of lilacs.
"There!" He broke eye contact so he could face his partner. "Cain you must be able to smell it now."
Cain shook his head, looking as if he thought Ethan was crazy. Then the scent was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
"Ethan, how much do you know about your mother's life before she married Senator Whitelaw?" Ms. Troy patted at her hair even though there was not a strand out of place as far as Ethan could tell.
After a quick shrug of his shoulders Ethan said,"She doesn't like to talk about that part of her life as far as I can tell. She would never go into detail and was superb at changing the subject." Ethan met Ms. Troy's glower with one of his own. "Why do you ask?"
"What I'm about to tell you is only known by a select group of people. I would be tried and executed for treason if I leaked this info to the public." Upon breathing out a gentle sigh, Ms. Troy sat back down. Her skin looked ashen compared to only a few seconds ago. "Your mother isn't who you think she is. Elizabeth was -- is -- should have been one of the most powerful oracles within Mother. Her life was meant to be dedicated to Mother."
Ms. Troy shook her head. "You have never met your maternal grandparents." To Ethan's ears, Ms Troy was merely stating a fact instead of asking a simple question. "I doubt you have even seen pictures of them."
Ethan dipped his chin in agreement. "You're right. My mother said they died before I was born. I never pry because she always seems so sad when they are mentioned or inquired after."
"It is the truth, in a fashion, because your mother's biological parents died over 120 years ago."
Ethan scoffed at her words. "What? You can't be serious."
"Your mother is a clone of one the most powerful oracles Earth has ever known. Her death ... Well, some say suicide, a few years before the start of the Colteron War left a ragged void in Mother."
Returning to stand behind Ethan's chair, Cain leaned over him, his hands heavy on Ethan's shoulders. "I don't get you, Diane. All he asks about is some stupid imaginary perfume, and you turn around and slap him upside the head with this huge secret about his mother. What's the deal?"
"I believe he needs to understand what has occurred to him today. You, Ethan, are what Mother would call a tracer. There is a small percentage of men within Earth's population who have the ability to sense when psychic powers are being used. Some see auras, some detect a scent as you do and some report having their senses affected in other ways." Steepling her fingers, Ms. Troy paused briefly as if to collect her thoughts. "It is fortunate for you that your father never discovered your talent. You would have been chained to his side instead of being held by the ineffectual leash you managed to slip away from."
Ethan noticed Ms. Troy's hand tremble slightly when she took another drink of water. "There are plans being developed by Mother and the Earth's government to scour the colonies for women with psychic power by using teams of tracers. You should be on one of those teams, Ethan."
Ethan looked up at Cain when he felt his partner's fingertips dig into his shoulders. Cain looked furious and Ethan wondered what exactly was upsetting him.
"It's one thing to volunteer for the Alliance. But you're telling us they'll take these girls whether or not they want to be part of Mother?"
Ms. Troy nodded. "Earth is desperate. Genetic manipulation increased the psychic ability of Terran women to the point that the government and the military have grown to rely on Mother's directions, but it is my belief that the genetic pool has become stagnant because no oracles were discovered on Earth in the last ten years. In fact, being a strong psychic is now looked on as a curse. Couples are finding a multitude of reasons to avoid having their daughters tested, and most couples are electing to have sons."
"I can tell you right now the Colonies won't bend over and take it with a smile."
"All families will be compensated. A life bound to Mother is not an easy life, certainly more so during a war, but life in the Colonies is hard and never a sure thing."
"I just fucking bet they will," Cain said. "Most of the time Terrans stick their noses in the air and talk about the Colonies like they're discussing an inconveniently placed shit-pile."
Ms. Troy didn't even blink. "The plan was shelved indefinitely because the successful cloning of a powerful oracle had been hailed within Mother as a salvation, but as Elizabeth grew up she seemed to realize how her life was being manipulated. Mother believes Elizabeth chose to escape by using the Whitelaw's influence and powerful connections. Now, after meeting you,Ethan -- and learning more about you -- I wonder if your mother was following a greater plan." Ethan shivered uncontrollably as if ice water had been dumped over his head.
Cain abruptly punched Ethan in the arm hard enough that Ethan knew he would have a bruise there in the next hour or so. "Did you see that?" While jabbing his index finger at Ethan, Cain said, "This idiot already has a damn savior complex without you putting more weird ideas in his head, Diane."
When a tablet on her desk pinged, Ms. Troy picked up the tablet to tap and slide her finger over it a few times. "I must attend a meeting with the Executive Director. Please excuse me." Standing up, Ms. Troy tucked her tablet into the crook of her left elbow. "I do not know if you will be successful Ethan or if you will even survive, but I do believe you are the right man for this mission. Carefully consider what you have learned today."
By pressing a button on her desk, Ms. Troy opened the main door. "Enjoy your stay at Port Royal, Gentlemen." Ethan forced himself to stand up as he watched Ms. Troy stride away, her red skirt swaying like a warning flag in the wind. A minute lapsed as Ethan continued to stare at an empty doorway while he mentally tumbled in the waves of info which had crashed over him.
Cain's fingers brushed over Ethan's hair before tugging gently on a fistful of strands. "Let's go find Deimos and your girlfriend. They should be waiting for us in the lobby."
After a quick lift of his chin, Ethan walked out of the office door ahead of Cain.