Chapter 88 - So Much For The Afterglow
Medoferro and Miranda cuddled together in the shallow end of the pool, letting the cooler water there help cool them off after the physical exertion. Both of them were smiling and kissing softly as they looked up through the skylight at the moon. Medoferro ran his fingers through her dark, wet hair and smiled.
"That was amazing," Miranda said, "It was a feeling of just being all in one with you."
"I know," Medo agreed softly, "Something I’ve never felt before, I can tell you that. I wouldn’t trade that feeling for all the pretty girls in the palace."
"I guess I’m pretty enough for you, huh?" Miranda said, grinning.
"They’re the pretty ones," Medo told her, "You’re simply beautiful."
"Still the charmer," Miranda giggled, "Simon must have been giving you lessons."
"Too bad we can’t stay here all night," Medoferro sighed, "But you know they’re going to start looking for us eventually."
"Probably so," Miranda sighed, "I don’t want to let you go though."
"I don’t see why you’d have to," Medoferro told her, "Not tonight at any rate. Your sister is the one who pushed us together. You think she’s going to balk if we decide to sleep in your room?"
"You want to stay with me then?" Miranda asked hopefully.
"As long as I can," Medo confirmed, "Let’s get dressed, go check on Massy and then go get some sleep."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Miranda agreed, "So long as I wake up with you there."
"I’ll be nearby if nothing else," Medo promised, "Let’s get dressed."
Miranda grudgingly got out of the pool and went to put on some clothing. Medo did the same, admiring Miranda’s form as she did so. She noticed him looking and smiled, liking the fact that he enjoyed watching her. When they were dressed they stood up and walked right back to each other.
"Should we be demure and make them wonder or should we just go back hand in hand?" Medo asked her, "It’s your choice."
"I want you to hold my hand," Miranda grinned, "Much more than I care about making them wonder."
"There you go," Medo said, offering a hand, "Let’s go see what’s going on."
They walked together hand in hand back toward Toria’s house. Medo was a little concerned by the amount of lights on in the place, but didn’t let Miranda in on his fears. It wasn’t until they walked in the door together and saw Roland and Simon waiting for them that he knew something was wrong.
"What are you two still doing up?" Miranda asked them, "It’s late isn’t it…"
Medoferro put a finger on her lips and looked at the dour faces on his friends. He didn’t need them to say a word to know something was wrong. Medoferro closed his eyes for a moment and prepared himself for the news that he knew was about to come.
"He didn’t make it, Medo," Simon said, looking his friend in the eye, "Toria fought like a demon at the end, but his heart couldn’t take the damage."
"Oh my," Miranda said, looking up at Medo, "No…"
"When did it happen?" Medo asked him, "Did he feel anything?"
"A couple hours ago," Roland told them, "He never woke up again, merely went into convulsions and cardiac arrest."
"While we were…" Miranda said, her eyes tearing as she looked at Medo, "It just isn’t fair… We were… While he was…"
Miranda started crying softly, while Medoferro pulled her against him, letting her cry on his shoulder. He was still too shell shocked to quite know what to do yet.
"It would have happened anyway," Roland told them, "We didn’t see any reason to destroy your evening totally."
"Thank you for that," Medoferro told him, his eyes showing a sincere thank you, "I need to see him."
"Toria and Stacy have been preparing the body," Simon said, "They should be about done now."
"You don’t have to go," Medo told Miranda, "But I have to see…"
"I’m going," Miranda said, putting a little iron in her voice, "I’m staying with you."
"Ok," Medoferro nodded, "Let’s go."
Medoferro walked into the room where Toria and Stacy were performing the necessary rituals for corpse preparation. Aside from the pale pallor and the complete lack of movement Massimaferro could have been sleeping. His dark, gray streaked hair was combed back in a dignified manner, befitting the station he held in life.
"I tried," Toria said, sadly, "Even kept going when there was no hope…"
"You did all you could," Medo said, looking at the body, "That’s all I could ask."
"Is there anything I can do?" Stacy asked them, "Anything at all?"
"Find an operator," Medo said, looking around, "Have the line warmed up. I’m going to have to inform Insegniferro soon."
"You got it," Stacy said, "It’ll be ready by the time you are."
"We need to talk," Medo told Miranda, "Right now."
"I’ll leave," Toria said, "You two need to be alone."
"You don’t have to go," Medo told her, "Since her future plans included you, you might as well be present."
"I’m about to become a Mullinix, hmm?" Miranda asked him, looking into his eyes.
"Only if you want to," Medoferro said, "I am not going to do to you what was done to me."
"I’m torn," Miranda said, "I don’t want to do the job you’re now going to have to, but I know that you don’t either."
Toria watched, feeling that she shouldn’t be involved in this discussion. Medoferro didn’t like having to be the one to put her in this place, but with Massimaferro’s untimely death it was now his job. He just wished that the choice would be an easier one.
"Sis," Toria said, "Don’t worry about me in this. This is an opportunity you want to think hard about."
"I don’t know what to think," Miranda said, sighing, "I mean, a lot has happened tonight…"
"Maybe we should take a walk together," Medo told her, "I need to head up to the government house anyway."
Miranda nodded and then looked at her sister. She was torn between the life she thought she’d live and the life that was being pushed upon her. She just knew that she couldn’t think about it sitting in the same room as the dead man that she was being asked to help replace.
"Sis," Miranda said as she stood up, "Could I talk to you a minute before I go with him?"
"Sure," Toria agreed, "Let’s go to my office."
"I’ll wait outside," Medo nodded, "Come get me when you’re ready."
Miranda and Toria went into her office, where Toria poured a little bit of tea. Miranda took it and drank, though her hands were still shaking. Toria smiled at her sister and looked her over, noticing for the first time how disheveled she was.
"I see you had a good night," Toria said, "At least up until now."
"It’s been magical," Miranda said, biting her lip, "I’m just wondering if this is the cosmic price for having a night this good."
"You love him, don’t you?" Toria said.
"I think so," Miranda agreed, "But I don’t want to take this position just because of that, you know?"
"That had nothing to do with them choosing you," Toria said, "You were in consideration before you and he slept together. You both knew this was a possibility before then."
"But I don’t…" Miranda started and then stopped, "I’m starting to whine."
"Medoferro feels the same way about you," Toria reminded her, "He’s probably just as torn as you are in reverse."
"How so?" Miranda asked her.
"Since he feels the same way for you as you do for him," Toria said, "Do you think he’d wish this job on someone he loves? But then there’s the selfishness factor… He doesn’t want to let you go either."
"Would you be mad if I took it?" Miranda asked her, "I mean all those years we planned…"
"Plans are made to be broken, honey," Toria smiled, "It’s not like you’re running off to join the circus. I know I’d be proud to have you in there. That palace could use a feminine touch i
n the ruling circle anyway."
"I’m going to go talk to him about it," Miranda sighed, "You’ll know when I know."
"I’ll be here for you either way," Toria told her, getting up to hug her sister, "I think you’ll be great at whatever you do."
"Thanks," Miranda said, "Time to go face the music."
Miranda walked out and found Medo and Simon sitting out in the dark. The three of them looked at each other for a few minutes before any of them had the urge to speak. It was finally Simon who ended up breaking the ice out there.
"Who would have thought," Simon said, looking at them, "That before the term ended we’d all be embroiled in this mess."
"She’s not officially yet," Medoferro said, "Unless you’ve made a decision."
"I wanted to talk to you first," Miranda said, "Mind giving us a few minutes alone, Simon?"
"No problem," Simon nodded, "I’m going to go up and see if the line is ready."
Medoferro and Miranda looked at each other for a minute. Neither one had any idea on what to say. Medo offered a hand and she took it, letting out a breath as she did so. The thing that had seemed just an idle possibility but a few hours before had turned into a fully fledged piece of bitter reality.
"Let’s walk," Medo told her, "We need to talk."
"I don’t know what to do, Medo," Miranda told him, "I don’t."
"I know that feeling," Medo said, "In fact, I had this conversation from the other side six months ago."
"With Massy?" Miranda asked him.
"That day I was pulled from class," Medo told her, "We walked through the crypts and we talked about what my being chosen meant."
"He must have talked well," Miranda chuckled, "Seeing as you’re here."
"Despite my feelings," Medo said, "I think you’ll do well at it, if you will agree to do it."
"I’m more thinking about what will change with us," Miranda sighed, "I mean me being a nobody and us sleeping together on the side…"
"You have never been a nobody to me," Medo said, "You never could be."
"Part of me is screaming ‘Run Away!’" Miranda said, "While the other part is telling me to go with you, just to be with you."
"Don’t just do it for me," Medo said, "I’m not worth it and don’t want it on my head for the reason."
"So what do you suggest?" Miranda asked him.
"Back when I took that walk Massimaferro said something to me that made all the difference," Medo told her as they walked, "He told me that as much as I didn’t want to do it, to ask myself if I would wish it on someone else. You know who that someone else would have been, right?"
"Me," Miranda said, "You took it so I didn’t have to."
"I took it because they chose me," Medo said, "I don’t know what to tell you, Miranda. I’m torn too. Part of me is saying to tell you to run like hell. But that won’t solve the issue."
"Since we both are deluding ourselves that I’m qualified," Miranda said, "Let me ask you this… If I do agree, will I at least get a fringe benefit out of it?"
"What do you want?" Medo asked her.
"Just you," Miranda smiled, "With at least a few more nights like the first part of this one?"
"You’d do this just to keep me?" Medo asked her, wondering.
"Wouldn’t you?" Miranda asked him, holding her breath for a moment.
"In a heartbeat," Medo said, taking her hand, "But are you sure?"
"As much as I will ever be," Miranda said, "Now let’s go make it official before I can change my mind."
Medoferro laughed and took her arm as they walked up the hill to the government house. While they were walking Miranda had a quick brainstorm and decided to ask him a question.
"Do I get to choose my personal rep?" Miranda asked him, "And what are the rules for doing so?"
"I chose Simon," Medo said, "Who are you thinking of?"
"Stacy," Miranda said, "Might as well bring all four of us in here. She’s the only one other than my sister I’d trust, and Toria is needed more here."
"We’ll put it to Iggy," Medo shrugged, "Unless there are some rules about it I don’t know about there should be no problem, provided she’s willing."
"Good," Miranda said, "Let’s get this over with."
"The operator is nowhere to be found," Simon shouted to Medo and Miranda, "But Stacy is getting it running and looking for the code book."
"Thanks," Medo said as they approached, "Last chance to back out, Miranda."
"You’ve got your goat," Miranda said, "I guess I don’t get to escape after all."
"Welcome aboard," Simon said, hugging her, "Wish it could be under better circumstances."
"So do I," Medo nodded, "Let’s go get this over with."
Miranda and Medoferro walked into the government house and went over to where Stacy was standing. She opened the door and offered them both seats. Miranda balked initially, but Medoferro insisted that she stay.
"I’ve got it running," Stacy said, "When I close the door it should connect to Skolnik. I can’t find the damned codebooks in this mess, but they should be able to get you where you need to go. Need anything else?"
"A stiff drink?" Miranda said, letting off a nervous chuckle.
"You’ll be fine, Mir," Stacy promised, "Good luck, guys."
Stacy closed the door and the line equipment came alive. Medoferro sat against the wall and Miranda scooted over next to him as they waited for the Skolnik line operator to come on to the device.
"Skolnik line," the operator at the other end, "Something going on up there, Charlie? Don’t usually get you calling this time of night."
"Charlie is off somewhere," Medoferro said, "This is Mullinix Medoferro here on the line. I need to get a line to the palace."
"I need the code sir," the operator said, trying to stay in protocol, "I can’t make…"
"You can make a connection," Medoferro said, then remembered Insegniferro’s code for the first leg, "Medoferro operation seven."
"Y-yes sir!" the voice said, "hold one moment please."
It was nearly a minute later that the duty line operator at the palace in Mullinix centre came on to the line. A young voice answered and again asked Medoferro for the codes that he didn’t have.
"I don’t have the codes," Medoferro said testily, "The operator up here is missing and I was never trained how to use these damn things."
"Calm down, Medo," Miranda said, "Yelling won’t help."
"Listen to me," Medoferro told the young man, "I need to talk to Insegniferro now. Walk your ass upstairs and get him, even if you have to drag his ass on the carpet."
"I cannot do that without the codes sir," the young man said again.
Medoferro was about ready to blow his top and start yelling when Miranda placed her hand on his shoulder and decided to try to defuse the situation by doing a workaround.
"Are there any of the house staff members around outside?" Miranda asked him.
"Identify yourself please," the operator said.
"Miranda Studebaker," she said, "Now can you answer my question please?"
"I saw Marina before I came in," the operator said hesitantly, "What do you want me to do?"
"Get Marina in here to identify us," Miranda suggested, "Please?"
"Ok," the operator said, "Hold on."
"I swear there’s something about your voice," Medo said, shaking his head.
"You’re just aggravated," Miranda grinned, "That’s all."
"All my blood has gone somewhere else," Medo chuckled, stopping when the light turned back on.
"Medo?" Marina’s voice said over the box, "Is that you?"
"It’s me," Medo told her, glad to hear a familiar voice, "I need you to go wake up Iggy."
"What for?" Marina asked him, "It took us a while to just get him to sleep."
"I don’t want to repeat it a dozen times," Medo said, "Trust me, I wouldn’t be walking him up if it weren’t important."
"Massy," Marina sig
hed, "Ok. I’ll have him in a minute."
It was closer to three before the light went back on. Insegniferro’s voice was a bit rough, but he was awake enough to realize that Medoferro wouldn’t have contacted him this late at night without reason. He cut right to the chase.
"Massimaferro?" Insegniferro asked.
"He didn’t make it, Iggy," Medo told him, "Roland and Simon said that Toria fought the fight as hard as she could, but his heart couldn’t take it."
"Damn it," Insegniferro said quietly, "When?"
"A couple hours ago," Medo said, "They didn’t tell us until we came back in on our own."
"Us?" Insegniferro said, "Is Miranda there with you?"
"I’m here," Miranda said, "Medo and I were out taking a break from his duties when it happened."
"Good," Iggy said, "Has Medo explained what we need?"
"Yeah," Miranda said softly, "He said that it was my turn."
"I applaud you, Medo," Iggy told him, "I doubt I could have found it in my heart to tell her."
"There are a couple complications though," Medo said, "You see, before we found out…"
"Your personal relationship is your business," Iggy told them, "You’re legally barred from being married. There’s no law against you being a couple."
"That was painless," Miranda said, "So what do we do now?"
Suddenly, someone started knocking on the door. Miranda volunteered to go out and find out what they needed. Insegniferro inquired a little more about what they knew about the circumstances of Massimaferro’s death.
"Do you know anything new about what happened?" Insegniferro asked Medo, "Or is Coblein still on the loose?"
"He’s turned into a rather hard to catch individual," Medoferro said, "Suvorov is still leading people in the search."
"Not anymore," Miranda said as she came in, "The search party just came back. They found him hiding in an old mining camp two miles north of here."
"Good," Medo said, "Maybe we’ll get a handle on what the hell is causing all of this."
"Go ahead and question him," Iggy told him, "I’ve got to let the palace staff know."
"What about the legal requirements?" Medo asked, "The choosing and the ceremony?"
"Well," Iggy said, "We’ve chosen. Welcome Miranda, or shall I just go ahead and start calling you Trinaferro?"
"Trinaferro?" Miranda said, "I guess I can live with that. What does it mean?"
"Third Iron," Iggy said, "You’re the third chosen really quickly. I don’t have time to come up with anything better."
"I like it," Medo said, "Easily cuts down to Trina."
"That’s the main requirement," Iggy said, "We can worry about the ceremony after you talk to Coblein. Maybe we can figure out some way to handle this properly."
"Keep the line open," Medo said, "We’ll be back when we have more information."
"I’m clueless," Miranda said, "But I’ll follow Medo, since his nerves are frayed."
"Call me in the morning," Iggy said, "Get some sleep before you call me. There will be nothing we can do until we’re rested anyway."