Twelve

                                                                                       Quadrant 7

      Ian was stuck in the past. He had watched memories of he and QMark for hours. The younger Gra had watched so long that many of them had repeated.

      The one he had watched more than the others is this one, where his mom was singing to him.

      “Little Moo I love you, you are part of me

      You are so like my father, who accomplished much quickly.

      Life is not what they promised, they lie every day

      Follow your inner voice, find it, and go your way.”

      There were two pieces of that song he focused on, the ‘so much like my father’ and ‘follow your inner voice.’ Ian knew nothing about QMark’s father. But knowing what he knew about the Ambassador, he wasn’t surprised.

      In his cage, Frank woke up and worked his way slowly out of his cage.

      “He may have also killed your dad,” he said to no one. Ian waved his hand. Appearing before him instantly was the entire history of the Domi-ium people, as well as files on every citizen. After a rudimentary search, he found nothing on either QMark or her family. “That’s interesting Frank.” The crab began crawling on the hand Ian had on the console. “So what do the official records say about me?” Quickly finding the file on him, he found there was no mention of QMark or her family. Both his and Cain’s file had only one-sided information.

      By now Frank had worked his way over to his treadmill. “OK Frank. Now what do I do? Where else do I look? Where is her information? Where is her pendant? The answers are there, but I’m not sure where to look.”

      Next, he pulled up the file on the Ambassador.

      No information came up at all.

      Being on the Council of Light Ian was used to having information at his fingertips. This was the first time he had ever not found what he needed.

      “I guess my only choice is to get the information from the Ambassador. Well, Frank, be prepared to put on your tiara and bow to the Great Gra.”

      Frank wasn’t impressed.

*                                             *                                     *                                                 *

                                                       Domi-ium

                                                First Cycle Past 3N

      When the Ambassador came back to himself, he didn’t know how he had gotten to his office. Each member on the Council of Light had what most of us in earth terminology would call an office. It contained a video receiver very similar to the one Ian presented to me. However, the ones in the offices of the Council was a monitor that watched the Domi-iums.    

      The rest of the space was empty. However, much like the ATOMS, the office would change depending on what its occupant needed. The only thing different in the spaces was that each Council member is allowed one item to customize it. Ambassador Gra’s item was the pendant that used to hang around QMark’s neck. It turned slowly as it hung from the ceiling, glistening in the light.

      “You are wondering, my dear Ambassador, how you got here.”

      “Yes Litworth I am.”

      “You were wandering in a circle on the Councill floor. I brought you back here so that no one knows how bad the Curse of Muah has affected you.”

      The Ambassador wasn’t sure what to say. So he said nothing.

      “You began as the most beloved of Muah. You were the one who did all you were told without questioning it. Because of this, you enjoyed Muah’s protection.”

      Above Gra, the pendant twirled slowly, glistening.

      “However, over time many of Muah’s disciples began to believe that the power they had came from them. In his wisdom, Muah created the Curse.”

      “I don’t deserve the Curse,” the Ambassador protested. His voice a faint comparison to the strength it once had. “I did everything for him!”

      “My dear Ambassador. Muah knows your thoughts. He knows when you when sit down and when you rise up. He knows the words on your tongue, and the thoughts in your mind. Since he gave the most power to you, you are the one who suffers the most.”

      Gra starts crying.

      “Pull yourself together you sniveling little shit! Your youngest son is on his way. He is going to ask you about ‘her’” he points at the pendant.

      “What do I tell him?”

      “As you don’t remember what happened, you won’t tell him anything. I’ll take care of it.”

      On the screen in front of him, Litworth noticed Ian approaching. He had gotten control enough of Gra to be able to shut him down as needed. He did so now.

      “My dear Mur;Po,” Litworth greeted Ian. “What can your humble servant do for you?”  

      Ian laughed. The laughter continued, becoming louder. The younger Gra stopped moving and fell onto the floor as tears began to roll down his face.

      Gradually it slowed. Finally he was able to stand again.

      “As my humble servant, you can tell me about QMark.”

      This was not a conversation Litworth was expecting.

      “I have no access to her files. I have no access to the files of anyone in her family. You will give me that access or I will kill you here and now.”

      He hesitated. Since Litworth knew the most intimate secrets of Gra’s mind, he normally had the answer to everything. The problem however was that Gra had even hidden the truth from himself.

      “My dear Mur;Po, what is it you would like to know?”

      Ian saw the pendant. He pointed to it “you could give me th

      Litworth was torn. He knew the item was important to Gra, but had no idea if the reason it was important was the reason he shouldn’t let the kid have it.

      He made a decision.

      With a thought Litworth transferred the pendant from the ceiling into Ian’s hand.

      Without saying a word, the younger Gra left. He thought to himself that that was too easy.

      Litworth didn’t realize his decision would lead to the Ambassador’s death.