Perdix's Lament
Title: Perdix's Lament, Prologue
Author's Name: frostian
Artist's Name: 3whiteroses
Genre: RPS, AU
Pairing: JA/JP
Rating: R for language and violence
Warning: Main character deaths
Summary: Humanity is at the brink of war as the relationship between the two major ruling parties disintegrate under bloody assassinations and accusations. Representatives from both sides, desperate in the hopes of avoiding annihilation, meet in secret, trying to stave off a conflagration that would set back humanity into the days before space travel. But neither party knows that there's a third group keen to see war explode across all systems. (Conclusion to Three Grams.)
Disclaimer: Brought to you live from Fiction Nation!
Praides, Capital of Grayan I
Pickler System
Gerald gave a slight groan as he rose from his chair, and then warily eyed his wife to see if she’d heard his complaint. Luckily, Sharon was too busy with the refreshments to notice his discomfort. Gerald gave a small sigh of relief. Ever since his arthritis had worsened, Sharon seemed determined to stuff him with whatever medication was available in the white market.
The black market also offered effective pharmacon, but unfortunately they had severe side effects, such as death.
Gerald grinned as he remembered Sharon’s diatribe:
“Death? Oh, I guess that could be considered a worrisome side effect. But then, arthritis would be cured, wouldn’t it? Permanently, in fact!”
“I heard that,” Sharon said, still busying about with a pot of fragrant tea.
Gerald cringed slightly. “It’s nothing. You know how my knees act up late in the day.”
Sharon studied her husband with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. Gerald was alarmed to note she had the same look when their children tried her patience.
“You say your knees acts up in the morning because you just woke up. Then, in the afternoon, they give you problems because you worked too hard. And, in the evening, they’re painful because it’s the end of the day.”
“I am not putting on that harem suit!” Gerald declared rather petulantly.
“Sweetheart, they help your joints deal with gravity,” Sharon said wearily, all too familiar with how this argument was going to play out.
Gerald shook his head. The shiny monochrome bodysuits were the latest in medical technology to help patients with advanced arthritis. However, they were skin-tight, and left the wearer looking like the eunuch therapists who used to be popular when deep space travel took years and not days.
“Did you see the latest images of Sabine?” he asked, hoping that his wife would accept the peace offering.
“I did, she’s growing so fast!” Sharon said, eyes bright with happiness and contentment. “Sandy looks radiant, doesn’t she?”
Gerald nodded eagerly. “I’m so glad Jared agreed to her plan.”
“Was there any doubt?” she asked.
“You have to admit, it’s rather a novel interpretation of the laws.”
“They obeyed the letter, if not the spirit,” Sharon countered. “And since the High Council did nothing, I imagine they didn’t mind Sandy’s sidestep.”
“The High Council? You’d think it went that far?”
“She bore a Padalecki: It went that far.”
Gerald sighed. But, when he recollected Sabine’s blooming face, all trace of worries disappeared.
He'd liked Sandy the first time he'd met her when she was a brilliant if also painfully shy child. And his good opinion of her grew as she became a well-respected doctor and a very shrewd politician.
After assigning her to the position as one of the Chief Medical Technicians for the Pickler System, the Population Board started asking Dr. McCoy when she planned to become pregnant. Though they had no true legal recourse, because she was ranked so high in their medical board, her position gave them a great incentive to put steady pressure on top of what was already a very pressurized situation, as the society she lived in expected her to marry and have children.
In fact, every woman who was given the clearance to become pregnant enjoyed a bounty of protection from not only the Population Board, but also from the Health Oversight. In return, they were expected to produce healthy children.
This expectation was met with some reluctance but because the women knew the importance if not the desperation behind these acts, they were willing to have a child. And since they received complete coverage before, during, and after pregnancy, the pregnancy in it of itself wasn’t considered a real trauma for the mother.
Dr. Sandra McCoy believed different. And she put up a substantial resistance. However, while the civic arguments fell under her sharp mind, societal pressures did not. Nevertheless, when she decided to have a child: she did so with a kick in the High Council’s collective and figurative asses.
Sandy proposed to Jared that he be the father of her child, though not her husband. She was already in love with Guy Raposo, Chief Pilot of the medical ship she was assigned to. Unfortunately, he failed Population Board Exam and was banned for life from having any children. And thus, Guy was also barred from marrying someone like Sandy. This didn’t prevent the good doctor from going around the barrier when she discovered the only legal and social impediment to their marriage was his inability to sire a child.
With her belly round from a PBE-cleared male and a Padalecki at that, she officially married Guy on Pandim, their medical ship. Jared was in attendance along with Jensen who was genuinely pleased that Jared finally had a child, though in a spectacularly subversive manner.
Initially, Gerald was afraid Jensen wouldn’t take the idea so well. But the proud and relieved grandfather later realized he shouldn’t have worried: Jensen loved Jared and relished the idea that Jared would somehow continue in his children. And Sabine was already showing the usual Padalecki symptoms - love of learning, often expressed by taking apart whatever was within reach, followed by complete loss of interest in the mayhem she created until an adult tried to clean up the mess.
Sharon took a peek at the time. “Why, they’re late. I wonder what’s happened to Grace and Peter.”
Gerald winced. “Um, they’re delayed.”
Sharon looked at her husband. “And how do you know that?”
“I got a missive from Grace earlier,” Gerald said sheepishly. “I completely forgot about it.”
Sharon gave a sigh, one perfected by put-upon wives. “I see. I’ll take the tea off the burner.”
Gerald remembered yet another missive, one with genuinely shocking news. And not for the first time, he wondered how much of his memory was draining into the abyss with the passing of each day. “Did you hear about Chad?”
Sharon looked up from the refreshment table. “No, what did that boy do now?”
“He’s thirty-eight years old; he’s hardly a boy now.”
“Were you even paying attention when he gave us a tour of his new abode?”
Gerald grinned and shook his head in amusement. “That was something … different.”
“What about him?”
“He’s campaigning for governorship.”
“What?!”
“Honest word,” Gerald said, laughing. “Chad Michael Murray is running for governor. And from what I hear, odds are good he’ll win it.”
“Grayan … ruled by Chad,” Sharon whispered. “I don’t know whether to cry or scream in terror.”
“You have to admit he’s a gifted politician,” Gerald said. “Everyone in Praides owes him something.”
“But the governor’s throne? Does anyone owe him that much?” Sharon paused for a moment then added, “It also doesn’t hurt to be Jared’s best friend.”
“Most certainly not,” Gerald agreed readily.
The front entrance’s alarm echoed softly through the house. Grace took a glance at a monitor and said, “It’s Grace and Peter.”
As was the appropriate custom, Gerald opened the door to allow their friends entry instead of using the automated system.
“Sorry we’re late,” Grace said.
“Been having problems all day with our water recycling system,” Peter explained. “We’ve had two engineers take a look but they couldn’t find anything.”
“Why don't I drop by tonight and take a peek,” Gerald offered.
“It’s just the recycling system,” Peter deadpanned. “I’m sure…”
Suddenly the air sparkled, as if filled with millions of tiny stars.
“What is this?” Grace whispered. “It’s lovely!”
It was Gerald who recognized it first, as the acrid smell that suddenly bloomed was distinctive. But he had no time to warn anyone.
The aersoled bomb - a combination of magnesium, inium, and unstable isotopes - flared, turning the entire house into a highly volatile energy source. But, instead of expanding until dissipation, this particular bomb collapsed inward after the initial explosion, obliterating everything in the blast radius with twice the usual force.
There would be barely any trace of human remains. In fact, the devastation was so horrific that Gerald’s lab, which was linked to the house through a maze of underground tunnels, was also completely destroyed.
Part I
Author's Name: frostian
Artist's Name: 3whiteroses
Genre: RPS, AU
Pairing: JA/JP
Rating: R for language and violence
Warning: Main character deaths
Summary: Humanity is at the brink of war as the relationship between the two major ruling parties disintegrate under bloody assassinations and accusations. Representatives from both sides, desperate in the hopes of avoiding annihilation, meet in secret, trying to stave off a conflagration that would set back humanity into the days before space travel. But neither party knows that there's a third group keen to see war explode across all systems. (Conclusion to Three Grams.)
Disclaimer: Brought to you live from Fiction Nation!
Praides, Capital of Grayan I
Pickler System
Gerald gave a slight groan as he rose from his chair, and then warily eyed his wife to see if she’d heard his complaint. Luckily, Sharon was too busy with the refreshments to notice his discomfort. Gerald gave a small sigh of relief. Ever since his arthritis had worsened, Sharon seemed determined to stuff him with whatever medication was available in the white market.
The black market also offered effective pharmacon, but unfortunately they had severe side effects, such as death.
Gerald grinned as he remembered Sharon’s diatribe:
“Death? Oh, I guess that could be considered a worrisome side effect. But then, arthritis would be cured, wouldn’t it? Permanently, in fact!”
“I heard that,” Sharon said, still busying about with a pot of fragrant tea.
Gerald cringed slightly. “It’s nothing. You know how my knees act up late in the day.”
Sharon studied her husband with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. Gerald was alarmed to note she had the same look when their children tried her patience.
“You say your knees acts up in the morning because you just woke up. Then, in the afternoon, they give you problems because you worked too hard. And, in the evening, they’re painful because it’s the end of the day.”
“I am not putting on that harem suit!” Gerald declared rather petulantly.
“Sweetheart, they help your joints deal with gravity,” Sharon said wearily, all too familiar with how this argument was going to play out.
Gerald shook his head. The shiny monochrome bodysuits were the latest in medical technology to help patients with advanced arthritis. However, they were skin-tight, and left the wearer looking like the eunuch therapists who used to be popular when deep space travel took years and not days.
“Did you see the latest images of Sabine?” he asked, hoping that his wife would accept the peace offering.
“I did, she’s growing so fast!” Sharon said, eyes bright with happiness and contentment. “Sandy looks radiant, doesn’t she?”
Gerald nodded eagerly. “I’m so glad Jared agreed to her plan.”
“Was there any doubt?” she asked.
“You have to admit, it’s rather a novel interpretation of the laws.”
“They obeyed the letter, if not the spirit,” Sharon countered. “And since the High Council did nothing, I imagine they didn’t mind Sandy’s sidestep.”
“The High Council? You’d think it went that far?”
“She bore a Padalecki: It went that far.”
Gerald sighed. But, when he recollected Sabine’s blooming face, all trace of worries disappeared.
He'd liked Sandy the first time he'd met her when she was a brilliant if also painfully shy child. And his good opinion of her grew as she became a well-respected doctor and a very shrewd politician.
After assigning her to the position as one of the Chief Medical Technicians for the Pickler System, the Population Board started asking Dr. McCoy when she planned to become pregnant. Though they had no true legal recourse, because she was ranked so high in their medical board, her position gave them a great incentive to put steady pressure on top of what was already a very pressurized situation, as the society she lived in expected her to marry and have children.
In fact, every woman who was given the clearance to become pregnant enjoyed a bounty of protection from not only the Population Board, but also from the Health Oversight. In return, they were expected to produce healthy children.
This expectation was met with some reluctance but because the women knew the importance if not the desperation behind these acts, they were willing to have a child. And since they received complete coverage before, during, and after pregnancy, the pregnancy in it of itself wasn’t considered a real trauma for the mother.
Dr. Sandra McCoy believed different. And she put up a substantial resistance. However, while the civic arguments fell under her sharp mind, societal pressures did not. Nevertheless, when she decided to have a child: she did so with a kick in the High Council’s collective and figurative asses.
Sandy proposed to Jared that he be the father of her child, though not her husband. She was already in love with Guy Raposo, Chief Pilot of the medical ship she was assigned to. Unfortunately, he failed Population Board Exam and was banned for life from having any children. And thus, Guy was also barred from marrying someone like Sandy. This didn’t prevent the good doctor from going around the barrier when she discovered the only legal and social impediment to their marriage was his inability to sire a child.
With her belly round from a PBE-cleared male and a Padalecki at that, she officially married Guy on Pandim, their medical ship. Jared was in attendance along with Jensen who was genuinely pleased that Jared finally had a child, though in a spectacularly subversive manner.
Initially, Gerald was afraid Jensen wouldn’t take the idea so well. But the proud and relieved grandfather later realized he shouldn’t have worried: Jensen loved Jared and relished the idea that Jared would somehow continue in his children. And Sabine was already showing the usual Padalecki symptoms - love of learning, often expressed by taking apart whatever was within reach, followed by complete loss of interest in the mayhem she created until an adult tried to clean up the mess.
Sharon took a peek at the time. “Why, they’re late. I wonder what’s happened to Grace and Peter.”
Gerald winced. “Um, they’re delayed.”
Sharon looked at her husband. “And how do you know that?”
“I got a missive from Grace earlier,” Gerald said sheepishly. “I completely forgot about it.”
Sharon gave a sigh, one perfected by put-upon wives. “I see. I’ll take the tea off the burner.”
Gerald remembered yet another missive, one with genuinely shocking news. And not for the first time, he wondered how much of his memory was draining into the abyss with the passing of each day. “Did you hear about Chad?”
Sharon looked up from the refreshment table. “No, what did that boy do now?”
“He’s thirty-eight years old; he’s hardly a boy now.”
“Were you even paying attention when he gave us a tour of his new abode?”
Gerald grinned and shook his head in amusement. “That was something … different.”
“What about him?”
“He’s campaigning for governorship.”
“What?!”
“Honest word,” Gerald said, laughing. “Chad Michael Murray is running for governor. And from what I hear, odds are good he’ll win it.”
“Grayan … ruled by Chad,” Sharon whispered. “I don’t know whether to cry or scream in terror.”
“You have to admit he’s a gifted politician,” Gerald said. “Everyone in Praides owes him something.”
“But the governor’s throne? Does anyone owe him that much?” Sharon paused for a moment then added, “It also doesn’t hurt to be Jared’s best friend.”
“Most certainly not,” Gerald agreed readily.
The front entrance’s alarm echoed softly through the house. Grace took a glance at a monitor and said, “It’s Grace and Peter.”
As was the appropriate custom, Gerald opened the door to allow their friends entry instead of using the automated system.
“Sorry we’re late,” Grace said.
“Been having problems all day with our water recycling system,” Peter explained. “We’ve had two engineers take a look but they couldn’t find anything.”
“Why don't I drop by tonight and take a peek,” Gerald offered.
“It’s just the recycling system,” Peter deadpanned. “I’m sure…”
Suddenly the air sparkled, as if filled with millions of tiny stars.
“What is this?” Grace whispered. “It’s lovely!”
It was Gerald who recognized it first, as the acrid smell that suddenly bloomed was distinctive. But he had no time to warn anyone.
The aersoled bomb - a combination of magnesium, inium, and unstable isotopes - flared, turning the entire house into a highly volatile energy source. But, instead of expanding until dissipation, this particular bomb collapsed inward after the initial explosion, obliterating everything in the blast radius with twice the usual force.
There would be barely any trace of human remains. In fact, the devastation was so horrific that Gerald’s lab, which was linked to the house through a maze of underground tunnels, was also completely destroyed.
Part I