The Paragon of Eden
Chapter 9

Deelia wore a dress. It wasn’t just a long skirt you could wear to a formal setting, though. It was an extravagant, uncomfortable, rather large combination of silks and bright colors. Her hair had been done up in a rich layout of golden combs. She wore makeup to make her look like some decorated member of royalty.

And she was. Still, this all had come to her as such a surprise that she could not shake the feeling that Deelia was still an innocent city creature playing the role of a lady. The things Veena had said were true, no matter how brutal they were.

“It’s difficult to replace remnants of your race of humans. Your pale complexion is going to make it easy for everybody to notice, though. And we could do you up even better. We’ll make you look like ruling class. And, with all your people dead, maybe you are technically the leader of the Sentini. We’ll have them all believe it was true beforehand, though. They’ll take you much more seriously.”

Now, Deelia was going to see if that statement was true. She was in a massive ballroom that was designed to almost resemble a coral reef, being introduced and escorted with a man, Kod, the pilot of the Shrike, one of the supremely powerful Angels of Dusk. To her, he was a guide and babysitter while she put on a sympathetic display. To the rest of the attendees, he was a guardian that protected her sovereign position, dressed in a black tuxedo, tailored to perfection. It was not clearly stated that he wasn’t her lover, or at least her betrothed. Deelia worried people might think that, but she was scared to wonder what they would do if they found out he wasn’t.

“Deelia Grefnon, of the Sentini people,” announced the master of ceremony.

The people gasped collectively. They were all aware of the events that had transpired between her people and their sworn enemy, the Empire of Dawn. Still, there was no proof. They all knew it was true, but without evidence, they had difficulty acting upon it. Now, however, with the leader of the assaulted people and witness of the atrocities standing before them, they could gain the support of multiple powerful organizations that worked under their rule. A total outbreak of war was coming.

That was what Kod and the other Angels wanted to prevent. And yet, he walked confidently down the steps to the main floor, arm in arm with Deelia, scowling at the onlookers. The plan was to rile them up, keep their technologies from falling behind the Empire, keep them in the arms race. The outbreak would only start once either side possessed a clear advantage.

Deelia was still not sure why this had to happen now. The other Angels had come to her with this plan out of nowhere, and it didn’t seem like they had anything like this in mind when she arrived. For one reason or another, the UPOA was threatened by a great loss of some kind. Yes, they must have recently lost something that could have given them the upper hand. Now, they needed something else, and Deelia was going to give that to them. She was going to unite them.

And even the part she was playing, the leader of a minor world that had little influence on the state of affairs between the two largest factions in Ookon, put her in a position lower than almost everybody here. These lords and ladies were all some of the highest class in the UPOA. Sure, the faction was a democracy at its core, but putting on this mid-evil show did let them flaunt their power and wealth. Deelia prayed they never found out the whole truth of who she was.

On the floor, they were directed to a table for the two of them. Kod never thought to tame his hair, but it wouldn’t stand out too much. All the people here strived for some element of exotic attire. Deelia actually seemed to fit in here, as much as she disliked how it felt physically.

Kod stood up, twice as tall as Deelia was sitting, slender and lanky in his movements, stepped over to Deelia and said, “Remember what we practiced. So much depends on you right now.” And then he left. Well, it hadn’t been a month in the Angels’ care for nothing. A month since she arrived, a month since she had seen Hau. She never forgot him, never met anyone or saw anything that took his place.

Someone sat down opposite of her. Deelia shrank into her dress, despite her practices. Well, the UPOA must have known that her people were not the type to wear these things. They couldn’t expect her to be so well in the art of wearing uncomfortable dresses.

“Well, if it ain’t another surprise for this whole mess,” said the man. He was old, a greying beard and bald head proudly tailored on his face. He was potbellied and stout, and he spoke with an accent Deelia made out to be rural, not what his position suggested. “I might not live to see it end.”

“Oh, Doht,” a younger woman called. Though her face was smooth and her features boasted a young age, the way she talked seemed to reveal something different. “You mustn’t address her yet. Are you not aware of the bad light everybody sees you in? We must wait—.”

“I ain’t give a damn! Those bastards need a kick in the pants for all I care.”

“They can hear you…”

“I ain’t give a damn. Lass, got ya a name?”

Deelia had almost escaped into her attire, and she sat up once she realized how odd she must have looked. For the sake of the galaxy, she needed to be brave. “Deelia,” she said.

“Okay, Deelia, listen to me.” He spoke in a quiet voice. “Don’t trust these hairless rats. Don’t take gifts, don’t follow their schemes. They’re gonna use ya, and you better learn to take it with the last shreds of dignity they’re gonna leave to you—.”

“Doht! Let’s leave while we still have some reputation to spare!”

Doht grumbled and left, being guided by the woman’s arms. Was that his wife? He didn’t seem to fit in around here. Most of the people attending the ball appeared to be rather young. They were all still a little older than Deelia, but it wasn’t off by a few years. At least, their appearances weren’t.

After a little while, another man came to sit with Deelia. He looked to be a few years older than her, and the way he moved seemed full of life. Almost too full, as if he was aware of how much elasticity youth gave him. “The first song will be starting soon,” he said. “I had hoped for a more elaborate impression, but it seems we were not given the chance. Now, I simply hope against hope, Deelia, that you will join me for this dance.”

His eyes were so calculated, his face seemed so forced. There was something inhuman about him, and he hadn’t even given her his name. Deelia looked around, and she noticed one woman watching them, alone and bearing a signia and color that matched this man. Deelia looked around more, searching for Kod. She found him. He noticed her searching and nodded, understanding the situation. And then he continued on, talking to the few other men there with him. Deelia was on her own with this one. Could she even refuse?

The strange man extended his arm, and Deelia took it. He stood, she stood, and they walked towards the empty floor where people were preparing to dance. His suit was colorful and covered in embroidery and gem work. He was clearly very decorated, though no better than anybody else in the cavernous room. It suddenly dawned upon Deelia that this man was powerful enough to influence the destruction of worlds like hers, ones far less advanced. Right in front of her, there was someone who could enslave a population on a whim. What did so much power do to a man? Had he ever acted on it? Could he still be sane? Why did he make her feel so unsafe?

The song began, and it was a cacophony of sounds from alien instruments and live performers, coming from a balcony above them and amplified using a network of highly advanced technology. It sounded similar to the classical music from Deelia’s planet, only if it were created based on a loose description of what that was originally like. It didn’t feel malevolent, but it felt off and did nothing for Deelia’s confidence.

The two of them began to dance.

“I…” Deelia began, stepping blindly. She had practiced a little with Kod and Veena, but they did not have much time. It seemed they had wanted to move things along faster than Deelia could keep up with.

“Relax,” said the man. “Follow my lead. It will be okay. Don’t think about what happened to your people, Deelia. Just be here, in the moment.”

Deelia cringed. She was through her traumatic episodes, or at least she was busy recovering. This man didn’t see that. Of course, Deelia was supposed to have her façade and play a different role, but Hau would have seen through it. He was the only one who could really understand her.

“I can see that it doesn’t leave you,” the man said. “It must be haunting. None of us have ever had to go through something quite as horrible, save perhaps Doht. You don’t want to end up like him, do you? No. You want revenge. Take the passions your tragedy brings you and unleash it on the world. Become the individual your feelings so desperately say that you are.”

“That’s not…” Deelia trailed off. She was supposed to play the part. Anything that could get them the support and unification of their whole organization. The fate of the Galaxy rested upon her shoulders. “I don’t want it,” she said.

“Nonsense! You are struck with fear. This is all so new to you. There is so much for you to learn, yet. I can tell from the way you walk in that dress, Deelia, that a few weeks’ stay in this place will grant you the insight and healing to let you be you.”

She didn’t have a choice. Once the song ended, the man gave her one of his signias, saying, “My name is Dastoff. I will be at your service to help you stay here. If you ever want to act on your true feelings about the Empire, I will have the power to let you do it.”

Deelia left to go back to her table, but she was stopped by another man. The patriarchy within the room seemed to prevent any woman from approaching her. None of her partners ever showed any romantic interest in her. Though that would have normally made her feel upset and more without worth, she was thankful for it here. These people were only concerned with commercial interests. They wanted more power for themselves, and each of them would jump at the chance that Deelia presented.

And so several more dances followed. Deelia was lost in the beginning, and though she began to replace her way as she learned better how to dance and navigate the conversation of these people, she began to wonder when the dances would end. Then, she was lost again, not knowing where she was going or where she had come from. This was going to go on forever. She would never be able to relax and be by herself in a room and just sleep. She wanted to see Hau again. What happened to him? Where was he? Questions she had started to get used to asking herself.

When the last song came and went, Deelia felt relieved. She hadn’t had the chance to ask for the restrooms, and she wasn’t sure what to expect in this alien construct. As she and Kod were shown to their rooms, both indeterminately distant from each other, she was finally left by herself. And they had restrooms here. And a huge bath, one the size of an entire room. Such a rich environment for a guest, and these aristocrats must have had even more extravagant personal properties. Their wealth must have had no end to it.

Deelia washed herself and soaked in the long-awaited idleness and solitude from all those unsavory people. She didn’t even let herself worry about the impending doom the Angels were suggesting she needed to prevent.When she went back to her room, she found a note lying on her huge bed.