Ambassador Alighieri's Arrival

[Seraphina Alighieri]

Seraphina awoke her heart pounding at the dreams she had had. She was covered in a cold sweat, the false light of a false dawn had begun to pour through the windows. There was no warmth to it no personality, this was not the light that had brought inspiration to so many it was an over glorified light bulb. She stretch and and winced, her hands flew to her sides. She sat their trying to breath. If it was possible she hurt more today than the day after accident.

She got out of bed and grabbed her silk robe from the bathroom door and walked into look into the mirror. The bruises around her eyes were beginning to fade from black and purple to purple and green. She splashed some cold water on her face, and wrapped up in her robe. She ran her hands through her long hair and glared intensely at the gash across her forehead. She caught the reflection of her eyes, there was no hope there just exhaustion and pain.

"I have pushed myself too hard this time."

She said to her reflection, and sighed.

"I need some fresh air."

Her hushed voice was full of sarcasm.

She walked out of the bedroom to see Grimbold sitting at the coffee table staring off into space.

"Mr. Theoman,"

She spoke softly. He snapped his head up and looked at her, it took a moment for his eyes to focus on the inside world instead of the inner one.

"I am sorry, about your wife. I shouldn't have said the things I said last night."

Her voice was shaking with pain both physical and emotional but there was a tone to it that was genuine. Her Italian accent made the words round and soft.

"Has anything come for me, I am expecting a packet from the Generals?"

She walked over to where he was sitting. He couldn't help but notice the difficulty with which she moved, how each step caused her pain. Her facade was gone, before him stood an injured and brutalized woman both physically and emotionally, who had finally pushed herself, and been pushed too far.

[Grimbold Theoman]

Grimbold was shocked to realise that he had been so far away. It took him a second or so to realise that the Ambassador had called his name although he had looked to her instantly it somehow had not registered.
"Yes I have an envelope for you, a courier brought it a little while ago."
He leant forward and picked up the package off the table but didn't hand it to her straight away.
"I should apologize to you, I was reminded of Sara when I should have not thought of her. I said some cruel things in anger. Can we perhaps start again?"
He rose then and handed the sealed envelope to the Ambassador, noting as he did so the look of loss and pain in her eyes.
"And please call me Grimbold, if there is any way I can help please just ask."
He knew after their words last night that he was inviting at least a harsh comment or at best a "Yes, leave me alone" but he felt he should offer to try and make amends for his harsh words.

[Svetlana_Popova]

Svetlana walks out of her room, a small smile on her face. She notices Grimbold and Sera talking by the couch, and with a slight frown, sees the package being handed to Seraphina. With a shrug, she walks out onto the balcony and lights a cigarette. An air of mixed emotions seems to surround her as she watches the false dawn cover the colony.

[Seraphina Alighieri]

Her hand shook as she took packet form the generals. She didn't open it. She looked at him no strength in her eyes, no strength in her posture, quite honestly she just looked broken.

"It is alright it has been trying time for us all. There is very likely not a single human on earth or int he Colonies that has not lost someone they know to this."

Her voice lacked any emotion at all.

"Apology accepted, Mr Theoman."

She could not call him by his first name it was to intimate she didn't want to be close to anyone right now. But her voice did have the subtle tone of genuine to it.

"And yes we can make a new start, but quite unfortunately, I have duties to attend to first."

She held up the packet, and shrugged her shoulders with mild disdain, not because of what she had to do but because she knew her duty came first.

She stepped out onto the balcony and inhaled the stale air. Svetlana was standing there staring out across the sterility of the Lagrange one. Seraphina came up beside. Just as she opened her mouth to ask for a cigarette, Svetlana handed her one.

Without turning towards Seraphina she said flatly,

"But you don't smoke."

"You are right, but I can't drink with pain pills."

She put the cigarette between her lips and lit it, and inhaled. Quite quickly she began to cough but she took a second drag anyway before sitting down and opening the packet. There was the list demands that she had to take back to hearth and a not a bout Dante.

"There isn't a body to take back."

She said aloud more to herself then to Svetlana.

"Denied even a proper burial, poor Dante. I shouldn't be too upset the child I loved died years ago. This just might kill his mother though, knowing there is no body to be cast down into the pit with hers at the Resurrection."

Quickly she changed the subject not wanting to visit last night's breakdown. She took another drag coughed again and put it out.

"They have offered us an escort an early flight home. I think it is time to go home, and after that vile thing"

She motioned to the smoking cigarette butt,

"I will stick to red wine."

She turned her face instinctively towards the direction of Earth, and stared off into the distance in silence.

[Grimbold Theoman]

Grimbold was at a loss, he had expected a much colder response from the Ambassador, he could not think of her as Seraphina if she could not use his firstname. She was right though they had work to do in different ways. Well maybe time would allow them to talk later, he still felt there were things to be said. Time to prepare for the day. He started by ordering himself a breakfast, an old fashioned Full English, not his usual but he had not eaten properly in a while so what the heck.

[Svetlana_Popova]

Svetlana continues to stare out over the colony, her mind a wreck of emotion. She glances at Seraphina briefly, and then puts up several walls to avoid feeling through Seraphina. She quickly hides her reaction to the lack of body for Dante behind a look of neutrality.

"Perhaps it is best this way. It is now in God's hands to decide his fate, and not ours any longer."

She takes another drag and exhales the pollutants into the sterile environment of the colony.

"Grieving for what Dante once was, does not do you any good. Celebrate his life Seraphina. Embrace all the good times you had as a child with him. Regardless of what happened between you two, that is what he would want."

She pats Seraphina on the back, flicks her cigarette over the rail and heads back inside leaving Seraphina alone with her thoughts.

[Seraphina Alighieri]

Seraphina could not help but feel comforted by the simple gesture that Svetlana had given her. It was as though she too understood her pain. She sighed under the gentle pressure of Svetlana's hand. She almost asked her to stay as she entered the suite but chose not to.

She sought the same comfort she had always known beneath the Tuscan sun but could not find it under the sterile lights that bore only physical light and warmth. As the air moved around her, it caught her hair in its cool tentacles just as it would have on Earth, but it smelt mildly of coolant like that of an air conditioner. For all of the similarities of Earth that this place bore the bustling people, the trauma, the sorrow and the politics, it had no personality, no history. This simple trip had taken her farther into Gabriel's and her own minds than she had ever really thought it would, or cared to be. As her empathy with Gabriel grew about the sterility and phony nature of the Colonies she began to fear for the affections of her lover. As she sat there alone she sank deep into a depression, her humanity was slipping away from her, like sand through a sieve. He sadistic delight at the thought of Dante writhing in pain, clashed cruelly with her memories of him standing up for her against the bullies the tormented her in school, and the ex-boyfriends that would linger about her in secondary school, and tickle fights. How could I relish another person's death? She thought to herself, Another persons suffering. I have become an abomination, and there is no way to make amends for it. I cannot even tell him goodbye. At last she began to weep tears of true grief and remorse. She wept for the loss of her cousin, his death and his innocence. She wept for the loss of herself, her humanity. She wept for all of those the she had seen over the last three years, injured, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically, by the ongoing conflicts both on and off world. She wept for Gabriel's losses and sacrifices as he went about his duty as he defined it.

As she sobbed her ribs began to gnaw at her in agony, but she wept through this as though the simple act would purge her of all of her pain. She begged for forgiveness from Gabriel, God and her family for what she had become.

[Grimbold Theoman]

Grimbold, heard the sound of racking sobs coming from the balcony. Knowing that the Ambassador was out there alone, he rose and went to the french doors, Seraphina was alone standing at the railing her arms clasped arround her injured ribs. Knowing he was intruding and feeling the pain and grief like waves radiating out from her he went to stand beside her.
"There is no comfort here is there?"
It was a rhetorical question just meant to say he was there. He steadied his thoughts and tried to find the calm centre he relied upon to hold his own emotions in check not unfelt or acknowledged but at arm's lenght and controlled.
"I don't suppose you have ever been to Donegal, it's a wild and often lonely place. Green hills and blue skies, I used to walk there a lot when I was a child. Lots of outsiders moved in they like the wild beauty of the place until they realise that there are no theatres few cinemas and only very small galleries. Not a place for your modern urbanite."
He was just talking, being a calm voice, a counterpoint to the Ambassadors turmoil of emotions and physical pain. As he spoke his accent went from soft Irish to broad Donegal. He had no idea whether he was helping, but sometimes an anchor will help stop one drifting away.
"I left the place for university but go back quite frequently, it's a place where I refresh myself, usually after a job. Funnily enough I got some of the same feelings about Florence it has a good atmosphere in spite of some of the history of the place."
He stopped talking and looked out over the colony it was not a place where humans were at home. They could live anywhere but it lacked something that made it a home. It was unnatural to Grim.

[Zeke]

Zeke woke up in an empty bed. He saw the imprint of Svetlana and realized what had happened last night. As he sat up he couldn't help but smile and wonder, was it sleep that made him smile? It had been a long time since he had actually slept for any long amount of time.

He wandered out into the main room in his black jeans with his shirt, shoes and socks, and gloves off. He stretched upwards toward the sky and looked around. Grim was with Seraphina on the balcony, Svet was in the kitchen and Alan was nowhere to be found, probably sleeping.

He wandered over to Svetlana in the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. Before letting go of her and wandering outside to the balcony and lit up a cigarette and made his way to the opposite side of Grim and Sera, they were obviously having a moment. As he smoked.

[SinfulSoul]

General Marshall finally arrived at the military medical facility where Dante was being held. A surgeon had just come out of the emergency room after removing the bullet from Dante's shoulder and putting a metal plate where the bone had broken. A second surgeon was currently in the process of connecting blood vessels, nerves, and muscle back together. A systematic blood work exam had already been completed and was given to General Marshall. He quickly shrugged it off and slid it in a black leather briefcase he carried with him. A glint of silver shined from within the briefcase for the short moment he opened it. He then waited patiently for the surgeons to finish just outside the door.

[Seraphina Alighieri]

Seraphina heard the doors to the balcony open and close behind her as she stood at the railing of the balcony. She heard footsteps and then Grimnbold's voice as he spoke to her, but all of these sounds seemed to come to her from across an ocean of space and time. She didn't really hear his his words, not because she was ignoring but she had withdrawn so far into herself she felt as though she was drowning. Desperately she sought to gain some level of control over herself. There far away from the comforts of Earth she stood searching for a focus point something to bring her back to her reality to herself. She could not stand him so close to her, not because of he himself, or the harsh words exchanged the night before, or even the awkward apology from a few brief moments before, but because someone had seen her be what she truly was, simply a fragile waif of a human being.

As his words drifted into the silent abyss that surrounded her she fought desperately to stifle her sobs. Each attempt made her ribs and her the black ball in her stomach lash out at her violently with electrical shocks of pains and tightness in her gut. Both were rebelling against her very commands to regain her composure to force the overwhelming rip-tide of emotion that was dragging her down away. Helplessly she clutched at the side of her crimson robe, pressing her fists into her ribs letting the terrible flood her senses her floundered for a control that eluded her. Her grasp on herself was slipping away. Finally she stopped trying and let go of her side. She clutched the railing in front of her until her knuckles turned white.

Again she heard the door click behind her and footsteps. She smelt the rancid cigarette smoke that wafted by her nose. She glanced sideways begging what ever powers that may be the it was Svetlana. She was greeted by the ever watchful eyes of her guardian Zeke. His red eyed focused on them both as he stood guard. Some how my weakness will get back to Gabriel, somehow the monster I have become will be known to him before I see him. She gripped the railing tighter resisting the urge to throw her arms around one of the two to find some level of comfort from some person.

Finally she lifted her heard in complete and utter defiance of the vulnerability she had shown the two men. Her olive complexion glistening from the tears that were still pouring forth her soul from her brown eyes. Her sorrow, self loathing and self pity not yet spent she turned to face Zeke. Her eyes locked on his red ones for a brief moment. Regardless of what he had said about not knowing Gabriel she was sure he did. She prayed the some how Gabriel would know of her need for him, her love for him. Her tear stained visage and soul weary eyes told all of this to Zeke, before she hid her face behind her hands. This one in particular need not witness this wretched souls weakness, she though to herself. The simple action of hiding her face and the fear of herself became her saving grace. Slowly she straightened shoulders, and began to breathe normally as she lifted her face from her hands. A wall had been built against her and the world it encompassed her entire being and only one man had the key. She swallowed hard before looking to Grimbold and back again to Zeke.

"I have accomplished everything I can here I see no reason to stay,"

Her thin voice bearing the full weight of all of her emotions wavered slightly beneath it load.

"Let us return to Florence."

Slowly with a calculated grace she moved towards the doors and opened them. Looking back over her shoulder at the two behind her she whispered,

"Thank you."

[Grimbold Theoman]

"There goes one tortured soul. I hope whatever Gods watch her path take care of her there is nothing we can do."
Grimbold spoke to himself aloud. It had clearly taken the Ambassador a huge amount of strength of will to collect herself together. Grimbold had had his troubles and worries but it seemed they amounted to very little compared to what that slender elegant woman had faced. Damn he was starting to feel protective again. It always came out badly oh well that is life.
At least they were returning to Earth, it would be good to have real air to breath, real sun and rain to feel. Humans should not live in tin cans in space!

[Zeke]

He watches Sera walk off the balcony and is left alone with Grim on the balcony as he continues to smoke. He looks down at his chest and rubs the tattoo of a red cross-hair over his heart. He couldn't help but smile, it was a long time ago since he and Virgil got them. He took another huge drag and flicked the smoldering filter to the ground on the other side of the balcony.

He turned around and looked over the desolate structural haven and sighed. A smile crossed his lips. He was finally going home, and he no longer had to baby sit Gabe's girl. Though it had it's perks, he thought as he looked over his shoulder at Svet. Zeke spit over the edge of the balcony, not because he needed to, but to show disrespect to all of the traitors to their mother and earth.

Zeke decided to go back in leaving Grim on the balcony by his lonesome and dropped onto the couch inside before throwing his elbows up over the top and dropping his head. He was tired, he couldn't remember the last time he was tired. It was nice though, he almost felt human again. Not eating, not sleeping, it kind of exiles you from the rest of the race. Though he always needed to stay sharp.

Zeke kicked his head back and let out a massive yawn as he saw Svet. That was another reminder he was in fact human, Zeke couldn't help but smile as he saw her, he couldn't even figure out why, but she made him feel...not so evil. Not so cold. Then he remembered that the people out on the colony were humans, Grim and Alan were human, Sera was human, the generals were human...humans were the scum. Then he saw Svet again and smiled. He dropped his head back onto the top of the couch and sighed as his long red bangs fell into his eyes and he could no longer see anything.

[Seraphina Alighieri]

Sera walked over to Svetlana placed her hand on her shoulder. The normal cold expression that usually graced her face was interrupted slightly by something that Seraphina could not interpret as anything but emotion, though admittedly she could not tell which one.

"Let's go home, Svetlana."

She whispered.

"Would you please call the Generals and let them know that we will be departing two hours. That gives me a chance to get things packed."

She squeezed Svet's shoulder and walked into her room. She pulled out one of her silk Armani suits, a pair of black thigh highs garter belt, and shoes. She grabbed a black silk shirt and red tie and laid them out on the bed, before packing the rest of her clothes back up. She took off her nightclothes and prepared for a shower. She walked by the mirror and caught the bruises along her ribs, the black eyes and gash across her head harshly illuminated by the sterile light of the colonies fake sun and the lights of the room. As her eyes wandered over her reflection a wry smile worked its way across her lips, the damage done to her body was the exact same as that done to her spirit, and showed the world the monstrosity she had become. An angel no more, she thought to herself.

She turned the hot water on and adjusted it to be on the hot side of comfortable. She stepped into the shower and let the water wash over her. She stood there as the hot water poured over her like fire as though the heat would purge her sins. The steam burned her already irritated eyes. She washed the tears from her face and poured all of her will into picking up the pieces until she could get home. As her composure rebuilt itself brick by brick, a great sense of shame overwhelmed her. Not only had she become a monster people now saw her as weak.

Memories flooded back of her family and the things she knew they said. Information gathered from eavesdropping, and the few alliances she had, even Dante as he began to push her away. Most of her own family felt that she was weak and did not have the strength of will that was absolutely necessary to carry her name and fulfill any duties other than that of wife and mother. Now she knew that what they had said was true. Dante, Sophia, Bianca and her children would never had shown any emotion or even a glimpse of doubt in front of two complete strangers let alone on a political mission, and even more so in front of people meant to protect her that needed to respect her, possibly even fear her. Unbidden the tears began again. They are all right, she thought to herself. I am but a waif of girl who should have stuck to her art.

As she began to fall victim to her self doubt and shame a knock brought her back to her sense of self. Svetlana's voice penetrated the sound of the shower and her own melancholy.

"The shuttle will be ready in two hours for our departure."

She turned off of the water and stepped out of the shower wrapping herself in her towel.

"Thank you Svetlana."

She fought to maintain an even tone to her voice or even sound relieved, do anything to cover the maudlin gloom that had enveloped her. She was assumed she had not succeeded.

She left the bathroom and returned to her room and dressed herself. She tried to pick up her bag but dropped it as a hot shock of pain shot through her arm and her side. She shook her head.

She adjusted her suit jacket her tie and her skirt making sure her a-line was straight before walking into the front room. She opened the door and stepped into the living room avoiding any eye contact with any one present. She walked straight to the french doors, and went out onto the balcony. She picked up the packet from the general off of the small coffee table that was there, and sat down. She closed her eyes and laid her back her back and simply breathed the stale, fragrance-less air.

[Grimbold Theoman]

After Zeke left the balcony Grimbold continued to stand there looking out at the rather bleak colony world around him, again it struck him it was a strange way of life. But then in what place was he to pass judgement on the way of life of others. Here he was claiming one name but living with another, ok so many people do it but that doesn't make it much less strange. his very job was one people would find it odd him doing, those few people who knew him under his real identity anyway.

The sound of the french doors opening and closing came from behind him. Someone sat at the small table behind him. Clearly whoever it was was wrapped up in themselves as they appeared not to have seen him although he was to one side of the balcony and not in direct view.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw the Ambassador, she was sitting with her back to the door the package from the Colony generals in her hand. She had her head back and eyes closed. Something about her posture made her look terribly vulnerable, but then she was no matter what she wanted or thought was expected she was a human being with all that entaled. The worries, the loves, the troubles, the pains, but also the joys the delight in beauty, the ability to love, the strength to loose and bounce back. Being human implied a lot.

He took a last look out over the Colony again and turned silently back towards the suite. As he walked past the Ambassador he bent and spoke to her quietly.
"I don't know what is troubling you, but clearly something is, and you know what it doesn't matter whatever it is it is not important. Maybe I will get the chance to tell you why sometime."
He straightened and continued into the room closing the door behind him.
"I am going to pack and tell Alan we are leaving we will be back soon"
He spoke to the room in general and left to go to his own small room

[Seraphina Alighieri]

She opened her eyes as Grimbold spoke to her but otherwise did not move. She had her duty to the family to think of now. She would have to call and tell Sophia that her beloved Dante was dead. I am haunted by responsibility she thought to herself. Her heart began to open to the cold and calculating aunt, she pitied the woman, not only for the loss of her only son, but for her own blindly ambitious nature. Dante never had a chance in that family. As her emotions began to surge again she shut them down. She would need all of her strength for what she had to do upon her return to Earth.

"Bury the past first, then rest, then proceed with the future."

She said aloud to the uncaring universe, before closing her eyes and breathing the recycled air. She built a fortress around herself as everyone packed for the return. Gabriel need not know what kind of atrocious monster I am, she thought to herself randomly as she fit the last few psychological bricks into place, but a voice from the shadowy regions of her mind told her that he would know when he looked in her eyes.

Her only response to that voice was too continue breathing.

[SinfulSoul]

A surgeon emerged from the operating room in which Dante was being held. He immediately headed towards General Marshal and informed him of the progress.
Surgeon: "Sir, the second half of the surgery has gone well. Most of the connecting tissue, muscles, all major blood vessels, and major nerves have been joined. Those which we were unable to fix will heal on their own with time. He will experience mostly numbness, tingling, and mild problems with motor skills and coordination along the right shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. His body seems to be accepting the metal plate we put in and the blood transfusion. He's beginning to regain consciousness now too. He'll be experiencing a significant amount of pain as is with all surgeries for a couple days, but we'll put him on some morphine to..."
Marshal:"That won't be necessary. Wheel him out now. Oh, and remember to keep him strapped down."
The surgeon gave Marshal a bit of a worried look but he knew better than to question a SIG General. He simply nodded and returned to the patient to fulfill his duties. Moments later, Dante was wheeled out on a bed in little more than a patient garb restrained by several leather straps. General Marshal clenched his briefcase's handle tightly and headed towards the elevators, pushing along Dante with him not saying a word. He allowed the bright hospital lights to greet Dante as he returned to reality. He entered the elevator and pressed the a button for the ground level. An LED screen on the button panel asked for a Level 9 clearance card. Marshal slipped a card out from within his suit and slid it into a slot on the side. The shutters of a small camera slid open in which Marshal peered in briefly. He used the elevator buttons for different levels to input a 6 digit code. A small green light on the panel signified acceptance and the elevator began to move. The large doors eventually slid opened followed by a gate and Marshal stepped forward into what appeared to be one long single hall way with large steel doors on either side. Down the center were a series of halogen bulbs that were in steel cages on the 9 foot high ceiling. Each door had a small viewing panel through which anyone walking by could catch glimpses of people within. It was obvious that all the rooms were entirely sound proof as many of the people were banging on the doors as Marshal walked by, some even crying. This was much different than an insane asylum. There were no padded walls, no straight jackets on their patients, no restraints at all, not even a bed or a toilet. The only thing to keep the inhabitants company was a bucket. It was built like a bunker, pure concrete. Many of the rooms were stained in blood, some even with corpses of victims who have bashed their head in against the wall. Marshal wheeled Dante into an open room further down the hall. He left the door open so that the light from the hallway could penetrate the darkness of the room. Marshal's large well built figure stood in front of Dante casting a large shadow on his bed. He spoke in his low gruff voice with a menacing tone.
"Hello Dante. I'm General James Marshal. You can just call me Marshal."

OOC: I just realized I had started putting double L's at the end of Marshal. Stupid ring finger likes to push buttons twice. Sorry about that.

[Grimbold Theoman]

Grimbold returned twenty minutes later with his bags packed and ready for the return to Earth. Alan arrived a little later and the two discussed their plans once they arrived back on Earth. Alan was already lining up another job. Grim was going to wait and see what came up, spend some time in Italy, play holiday maker for a while.

[Zeke]

Zeke finally got his ass off the couch and rubbed the tattoo upon his chest before walking back into Svet's room and putting on his socks and boots. He stood up from the bed and threw on his shirt and his holster before sliding the coat over his shoulders.
He made his way back into the main room as he put his gloves back on and dropped down on the couch again. No luggage meant no packing. Ready to go.

[Svetlana_Popova]

She watches Zeke walk into her room, a small smile on her face. She rubs a small bruise on her arm. She sees him walk out of the room all dressed, and realizes she is the one holding everything up. She darts into her room and finishes getting dressed and packed. She straightens her hat with a deft twist, and walks back out with her luggage. She then walks into Sera's room, and grabs her luggage and sets it by the front door.

A knock on the door announces the arrival of the bell boy. She opens the door and lets him in. She then walks out onto the balcony.

"Time to go Ambassador."

She quickly turns, leaving the door open and nods at Zeke. She watches silently as the bell boy puts their luggage onto a rack.