Jenna did not feel at her best as the elevator descended further into Octavia Prime.  When the elevator doors finally opened, she was aware that she was about as deep as Adamis could stand to go at that speed.  It was a place intended to be used for quick private conferences, not to be confused with the Octavian’s inner sanctums.  Those were so deep in the oceans that Adamis simply could not go there.

When the elevator opened, it looked like Jenna was in the backrooms of a hotel.  All the glitz and glamor had been saved for other places.  She walked through a corridor with a cement floor and clear walls like the ones in Favel’s mansion, except these were dirty.  The algae growing on the tubes of light overhead made the light slightly green, while the view of the hotel above appeared purplish.  The hotel turned different colors like the whole building knew how to mimic fireworks.  A new collection of lights appeared every few minutes.

Jenna was slow as she moved down the hallway, but eventually, the lights turned off and she was forced to continue through a corridor that wasn’t even lit.  She stepped into the darkness and touched the wall that was wet with condensation.  Once the blackness was all around her, she saw a tiny light ahead.  She moved toward it.

She had all kinds of hopes for that little spot of light.  It turned out to be another elevator.  She pressed the button and called it.  When the doors opened, the fishy smell was stronger, but at least it was lit.

On the way down, Jenna felt a pressing weight on her that she had never felt before.  Her ears popped painfully.  Taking the second elevator was already marked in her mind as a big mistake.  The crown on her head felt heavier than ever and by the time the doors opened for her, she was crouching on the floor.

She crawled out of the elevator.

Then she hated herself, remembered everything Sardius had taught her in training, and forced herself to stand up.  

Once she had brought herself up to her full height, she saw who she had come to meet. 

It was a black octopus with the most vibrant bioillumination Jenna had ever seen.  The lines of its body were bright purple, and its suction cups almost looked like fairy lights to illuminate the glass room where they were having their meeting.  When the lights started flashing, the octopus gave the impression of a pinball machine… If a pinball machine were as big as a full-sized RV.

Jenna took a step closer and her foot was in a puddle.  The floor was not even and there were pockets of deeper water everywhere.  She knew immediately the purpose for them.  It was to help keep her host wet in the dryish area.  Jenna slipped and in the next instance, the water was up to her thigh.

Most notably, Favel said he would come to the meeting.  He was not there.  She should have been able to see his blue form outside the glass walls of the meeting room, but he was not there.

The purple Octavian in front of Jenna could not speak, but she lit up one of the glass screens next to Jenna and introduced herself.  

“My name is Mirr,” was displayed in green writing on the wall to Jenna’s left.  An electronic voice said the line out loud while Jenna was free to read the text.  “I’m here to explain the jewel on your crown on behalf of the Hipposyphis that placed it on your head.”

“I’m pleased to meet you,” Jenna said, aware that the Octavian knew a lot more about Jenna than Jenna knew about her.  “Can I speak to you without a translator?”

“Yes.  I can hear you, but please hold your questions until the end of the presentation and when you do speak, speak loudly and slowly.”

Jenna swallowed hearing that but nodded her head to show her understanding.

When it became clear that Jenna was all ears, Mirr began.  “You must know that the truth behind our conflict with the Adamis is an issue of resource management.  Not all planets are created equally.  Many planets cannot even be approached because of their oppressive gravity and lack of a surface.  This narrows how many planets and moons are desirable for their resources.  In the space race between the Octavians and the Adamis, the Octavians won.  The top ten percent of resource-rich planets have already been claimed by the Octavians.  The Adamis are unsatisfied with that result.  It was first believed that if the Adamis improved their technology for space travel they would be able to claim planets of equal worth to those claimed by the Octavians.  It is not true.  Due to the nature of Adamis life spans and the difficulty of space travel, the Adamis are about to have a difficult awakening.”

Jenna mouthed the words at the same time they appeared on the glass to her left.  “There are no such planets left.”

“The Adamis have begun coveting Octavian-claimed planets,” Mirr’s electric voice continued.  “That is how the war between our two people will begin.  Except it will not go well for the Adamis.  The most important planets that we harvest materials from have been marked and every possible precaution has been made to inform Adamis authorities and travelers that those planets should not be approached.  Whether mining operations are currently in progress or not is irrelevant.  Each planet we have claimed has been cloaked in a force field like the one activated by the jewel dangling from your crown.  Anyone unauthorized who attempts to land on such a planet will die.”

“Do the Adamis know?” Jenna asked in a solid voice.  

Mirr nodded, a universal yes.  “In the last two sols, three Adamis vessels were destroyed upon entry to marked planets when warnings were ignored.  In drafting your upcoming treaties, it is important that you inform the Adamis leaders that the Octavians are perfectly happy to cease transporting Adamis passengers not bound for Octavian-controlled solar systems if they feel that we are infringing on their rights of industry.”

Jenna nodded.  “The profit earned from those travel arrangements is nothing compared to what can be generated from the resource-rich planets you control?”

Mirr nodded again.    

“As a matter of fact, it’s probably better if your vessels are no longer moving Adamis passengers and can move cargo instead?” Jenna questioned, keeping her voice loud and slow.

“It was never profitable for us, even though the Adamis claim we are overcharging.  We did it as a way of thanking the Adamis people for the healthcare workers they provide and as an act of goodwill toward your people, but if it is no longer appreciated, we can put our ships to other uses,” the electric voice continued.  “You must understand, Jenna, that we have no interest in a conflict with your people.  There are plenty of planets of lower grades that your people are free to populate or harvest according to their wishes, but we must make it clear that what is ours is ours.”

Jenna touched the crown on her head.  She had the same bit of technology on her head that they used to protect their claimed planets.   “Why give me such a gift?” Jenna used the word gift because it was the kindest word she could think of.  So far, she did not think it was much of a gift.

“I’m sorry, Jenna.  The crown was placed on your head by your grandmother.  The jewel was placed on your head as a test for your people.  Once the Adamis discover that you are a miniature of the systems that protect the top ten percent of planets, how will they treat you?”

Jenna put a pained hand between her eyebrows in an attempt to get a freaking grip.  Humans were not known for their compassion.  She remembered medieval stories of benevolent rulers who ‘benevolently’ cut children apart because they believed that they had swallowed jewels.  She had a jewel everyone could see.  Not only that, but she was already unpopular with the AAMC.  Doubtless, they would rip her apart in their quest to unlock the planets they craved.

Jenna swallowed, not jewels, but bile sneaking up her throat.

“Do you also think that this is a test your people will fail?” Mirr asked in the same artificial voice she had used to explain everything else.

“I don’t know why you would do this to me when I’ve done everything I can to maintain peace and support your program.  This is a punishment for me!” Jenna exclaimed.

“What reward would you like?” Mirr asked, still automated.

Jenna couldn’t think.  She had a palace.  She had two palaces!  She had clothes and jewels.  She had fame.  Everyone in the universe had their eyes on her.  She had been offered love in so many different forms... Except for one thing.  There was one thing missing.

“Can you retrieve Sardius for me?”

If an octopus could raise an eyebrow, Mirr did it.  “I’m afraid not.  Our contacts in the Xypher Zone do not know the location of the ship that abducted him.  Sardius’ home solar system is far from our reach. That is the biggest reason why we use his people in diplomacy.  They’re so far away that without the aid of the Xypher Zone, you wouldn’t be able to travel there before you had died a hundred times.  The fact that you even got to meet him is unthinkable.  His luck is godlike.”

Jenna lowered her head in resignation.  If she had one more question, she had one more thing she wanted to ask.  “Is there anything you can tell me that will help me keep your secret?”

“No.  It’s safer for you if you don’t know anything.  However, I’m concerned that you may think that this is a punishment.”

“I said clearly I thought it was a punishment!” Jenna said crossly.  

It wasn’t Mirr’s fault.  There were tiny errors in translation.  She wished Favel had been able to attend the meeting.  Maybe he would have helped her to make her position clearer.

“You’re the most beloved of all the Adamis to our people.  We’re sorry that you have to carry such a heavy weight,” Mirr’s automated voice continued.

Jenna frowned.  

Mirr said more.  In truth, Jenna had never had so much sunshine poured on her.  If bootlicking was an art, the Octavians had gone to great lengths to perfect it. 

She was important.

She was loved.

She was the best diplomat they had ever had.

She was more.

She was the greatest.

She was going to suffer and die for their program.

Jenna half listened to the cruel kindness of Mirr and the Hipposyphis.  Then she remembered what Sardius said about there not being murder in the ocean.  Beloved things still died.  Favel still killed and ate.  

When things died, which was more beloved?  The thing that died or the thing that killed?