No, when it comes to this, I understand Straik very, very well.
The feed continues, with the reporter talking to Straik on one side as the armed militia charges into the gambling station. They race through the halls with shock-sticks, and as they do, the surroundings change from bland metallic station walls to ornate decor. When they enter the main part of the casino, the entire station turns into a brilliant array of colors, from silk wall hangings to garish tables for a number of Sticks games. The place is crowded, too, wall-to-wall with what look like mesakkah lords and ladies. Someone shrieks at the sight of the soldiers rushing toward them, and then the station erupts into utter pandemonium as people begin to flee, hiding their faces away from the vids.
I suddenly realize that Straik is very clever, indeed. By agreeing to have this be public, not only is he bringing down his mother, but in the confrontation, other lords from other houses are also going to be flushed out. Once they are, the scandal will just grow bigger, until it’ll be impossible for his mother to bribe away. Then again, maybe not. Everything can be bought for the right price.
The vid goes on for hours, and we watch every moment of it, from the lordlings and courtesans that get tapped with the shock-sticks and arrested, to the chase through the satellite as Lady va’Rin does her best to escape. She’s caught and confronted before she can board her private shuttle, and of course denies any involvement.
“I was brought here against my will,” she cries. “I’m a victim!”
When the vid cuts back to Straik, he just looks disappointed. “I’m embarrassed by my family,” he says, dramatically ripping at the embroidered symbol on his robe with his be-ringed hand. “To think that my mother denies her dealings when we have so much proof. Even her own associates have named her in an effort to save themselves. Please tell all of Homeworld that the sa’Rin family will be willing to pay whatever penalty is sought for such heinous crimes.”
“It’s my son!” Lady sa’Rin cries as they put her in cuffs. “My son is trying to trick you all!”
Straik manages to wipe away a tear and look distraught. “I’m so disappointed in our family.”
“Wow, he’s good,” Jade says, impressed. “I almost bought that.”
I am, too. He’s definitely selling this well. I can see why he wanted to have this all transmitted. I can tell by the gleeful shock on the reporter’s face and the horror of the lordlings that are getting arrested that this is going to reach far deeper than anyone could have anticipated.
“So what happens now?” Alice asks. “Is it really that bad to run a casino on a satellite?”
“It’s more about taxes,” Kaspar says, rubbing her feet. “Homeworld will see it as a tax dodge and they’re going to go through her records looking for any possible way to squeeze credits out of her. It’s going to be a keffing nightmare for years and she’ll probably come out of this broke and utterly dishonored. And all those lordlings they’re scooping up? They’re all going to point the finger at her to save their necks.”
He’s not wrong. Even if Lady va’Rin continues to proclaim her innocence, she’s going to be watched for the next several years, to the point that she won’t be able to roll out of bed without someone noticing. It truly will be miserable for her. I imagine Straik will be drawn in as well, but he would have made sure that he was covered in all ways. He’ll likely proclaim that he’s broke and leaning on Lord va’Rin for his goodwill and then no one will question his finances.
Truly, it’s the best sort of revenge that could have been wrought against Lady sa’Rin. A quiet accusation and trial she could have wriggled out of with the right lawyers.
Public humiliation in front of the entire universe? That’ll last forever.
Helen is thoughtful as we head off to bed. Instead of teasing me and hinting at sex, she’s quiet. I help her undress (mostly because I just like touching her), and when she remains silent, I ask, “Are you all right, love?”
She shrugs, a pensive look on her face. “I guess it just bothers me that we watched that feed and everyone was upset about the gambling more than anything. That she didn’t pay taxes. They barely mentioned the cloning and even when they did, no one much cared.”
I nod. “Straik’s going to publicly downplay it because of Ruth, but there’s no denying that most of Homeworld will view it as far more offensive that she didn’t pay taxes on her gambling station than the fact that she was running a cloning ring. You’ll find that a lot of mesakkah turn a blind eye toward slavery and cloning in general. It’s…a problem.”