\u201cYou\u2019ve been what?\u201d Trema asked Amy after a few days of flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTalking to Llyra so I could get dresses that would flatter me,\u201d repeated Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAmy, I can\u2019t believe you\u2019re getting involved with her,\u201d snapped Trema. \u201cThe whole notion of you being friendly with her is ridiculous!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess you\u2019re going to tell me not to associate with her?\u201d guessed Amy as she made plans to disobey such a command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re telling me that Stylor and his Headmaster associates are giving you support?!\u201d snarled Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in this together!\u201d insisted Amy. \u201cAnd, feud or not, Llyra\u2019s the only one who can get us through this! I really don\u2019t care if her father did something you thought of as cowardly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis has nothing to do with my specific distaste for Llyra\u2019s father,\u201d argued Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen what\u2019s the problem?!\u201d snapped Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou really want to know?!\u201d growled Trema. \u201cYou absolutely want to know what my problem is?! I\u2019ll tell you! The history of Zarak\u2019s lineage, that\u2019s my problem! Every time magic tries to resurface on Nebulos, we get ostracized by Zarak\u2019s family! In the height of his time, we magic-folk weren\u2019t welcome! Yes, we could be performers or janitors, but citizens? Forget it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe that\u2019s what Llyra\u2019s father may believe is right,\u201d countered Amy, \u201cbut I\u2019m not seeing that with Llyra herself. I have never felt uncomfortable around her and neither have your husband or the Headmasters! Even Sira and Natalie have gotten tips on how to go through Nebulos from her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you see?! That\u2019s the lie!\u201d insisted Trema. \u201cWhen she was a young girl, she always believed in the inherent good of people and wasn\u2019t corrupted by her father\u2019s ideals! She is blind to the fact that it\u2019s still not an easy time for magic users and I am NOT going to pretend that it is!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrema,\u201d argued Amy, \u201cI can respect the fact that her views may not be a totally accurate reflection of the political situation, but I always believed that people like her could see both sides of the issue. She can see the way things could have been, the way they should have been.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe cannot ignore the truth about the past!\u201d growled Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLetting Llyra help us isn\u2019t going to make us forget who we are and where we came from!\u201d snapped Amy. \u201cWhat it does is remind us that we can flourish if both sides give each other a chance! The only way to do that is to accept that we are not bound by any limitations! At least, only the ones we choose ourselves. Now, if you\u2019re still going to tell me that I can\u2019t talk to her anymore, just know that I have every intention to disobey that.\u201d Trema sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Llyra and Stylor overheard the entire conversation. An accusing look from Llyra was directed at Stylor. \u201cYou never told me your wife\u2019s prejudice of my family stems from something like that!\u201d she accused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrema\u2019s a woman of strong convictions,\u201d replied Stylor as he polished his Headmaster armor. \u201cShe believes that high-class members of society can never truly see the suffering going on in the middle and lower classes and shouldn\u2019t even try to change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a prejudiced, narrow-minded view!\u201d growled Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere IS precedence for that view!\u201d snarled Stylor. \u201cHer family suffered greatly in the relocation camps all magic folk lived in! If someone wishes to join OUR house, they must prove that they can understand the value of both magic AND science!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI HAVE proven that!\u201d insisted Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd Galen wouldn\u2019t have proposed to you if you didn\u2019t,\u201d assured Stylor. \u201cYou have proven yourself to be an honorable woman and a great warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you should say that to Trema!\u201d urged Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026N-n-not such a good idea,\u201d stammered Stylor. \u201cI don\u2019t want her to think I\u2019m stepping into her domain as Head of House.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Perhaps I should say something,\u201d mused Llyra. \u201cIf I made my case that I CAN listen to those that were oppressed, it wouldn\u2019t seem like a challenge to her authority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that if I were you!\u201d warned Stylor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Why?\u201d asked Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell\u2026,\u201d floundered Stylor, \u201cto tell you the truth\u2026she doesn\u2019t like politicians either.\u201d Llyra rolled her eyes as she sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course she doesn\u2019t!\u201d she hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t let that bother you,\u201d replied Stylor. \u201cRexna, Orbenth, and I had EVERY right to override her when Galen chose you as his bride. She\u2019s accepted the fact that there\u2019s nothing she can do about THAT.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow comforting,\u201d snarked Llyra. The comms then beeped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is Gort calling Stylor and Trema!\u201d called the young helmsman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStylor here,\u201d replied Stylor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo ahead,\u201d directed Trema\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve just entered Nebulan space and have spotted a ship held in a tractor beam!\u201d reported Gort. \u201cThe held ship is a Femaxian vessel and the ship firing the tractor beam is the Peaceful Tyranny<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe D.J.D\u2019s ship?!\u201d yelped Llyra. \u201cThey have no right to hold vessels in our space!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBattle Stations!\u201d ordered Trema\u2019s voice. Everyone made their way to the bridge and took their stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI heard Llyra say it\u2019s the D.J.D\u2019s ship,\u201d called Sira. \u201cWhat does D.J.D mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDecepticon Justice Division,\u201d explained Trema. \u201cThey\u2019re a branch of the Decepticon Empire that deals out \u2018justice\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could practically hear the quotation marks around \u2018justice\u2019,\u201d observed Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen I say \u2018justice\u2019,\u201d growled Trema, \u201cI mean \u2018unmarked graves\u2019. They kill any Decepticon transgressors in the messiest fashion possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey usually use a computer program called The List to find and execute their victims,\u201d supplied Llyra. \u201cMany Decepticons prefer suicide over the D.J.D knocking on their door. None of them get the chance as the arrival of the D.J.D is the only clue that they were ON The List in the first place. They\u2019re very much hated among the Decepticons\u2019 rank-and-file.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe question I have is this;\u201d muttered Trema, \u201cwhy are they holding a ship in OUR space?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re about to find out,\u201d reported Duros. \u201cWe\u2019re within visual range.\u201d The Peaceful Tyranny<\/em> was a small vessel compared to the Nemesis<\/em>, looking like a sword fish with a few extra fins and two extra noses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHail them,\u201d ordered Trema. \u201cEngage our holo-filter, see if you can make us look like Decepticon supporters.\u201d Duros did so and a face filled the screen. It was Cybertronian and was covered in a mask that was the Decepticon symbol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is Tarn, leader of the Decepticon Justice Division,\u201d answered the bot, the voice being very deep and very masculine. \u201cHow may I help you, my friends?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can start by telling us why you\u2019re holding that ship!\u201d snarled Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have orders to search all vessels attempting to go through Nebulan space,\u201d explained Tarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSearch them for what?\u201d asked Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor Decepticon transgressors,\u201d replied Tarn. \u201cWhat else? Each ship will be scanned, its cargo searched, and its crew members and passengers subjected to mental testing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn whose authority?\u201d snapped Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn the authority of the Decepticon Lord,\u201d answered Tarn, \u201cand the Decepticon Empire. You know, the Empire your people are members of?\u201d Amy, Natalie, and Sira arched an eyebrow as they hid behind Trema\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe D.J.D,\u201d hissed Trema, sensing her friends\u2019 worry, \u201chas no jurisdiction over ships in our space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe assumed you would welcome our assistance,\u201d remarked Tarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you have any evidence that there are transgressors aboard the ship you have in your tractor beam?\u201d asked Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow can we have evidence,\u201d countered Tarn, the limits of his patience being reached, \u201cuntil we conduct our tests?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTarn,\u201d growled Trema, \u201cNebulan law strictly prohibits any unwarranted search and seizure of vessels in our territory!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have my orders!\u201d hissed Tarn. \u201cNow, keep your place!\u201d He terminated the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet me talk to him,\u201d urged Llyra. Trema turned and looked at her. \u201cPlease,\u201d pleaded Llyra. \u201cI can get him out of here, but only if you let me talk to him.\u201d Trema considered, then turn to Duros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHail them again,\u201d she ordered. \u201cAfter I have delayed him long enough, Llyra will step in and handle interstellar diplomacy. Ready weapons if she wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d bid Llyra. Tarn\u2019s face came back, looking a little irritated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you to stay out of this?!\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere have been reports of Decepticon smuggling in this territory,\u201d answered Trema. \u201cUsually, these kinds of searches, like the one you plan to conduct, are ways to deter other ships to search THEIR vessels. I have a warrant for searching any Decepticon vessel, so, unless you release that ship, I will need to search your vessel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cForget it!\u201d shouted Tarn. \u201cAnd if you attempt to board our vessel, I will consider it an act of piracy and have you turned over to Zarak! Is that clear?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can call it whatever you wish,\u201d roared Trema, \u201cbut we\u2019re not leaving until one of two things happens; you allow us to search your vessel, or you release that ship!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell,\u201d chuckled Tarn as Trema subtly nodded to Llyra, \u201cin that case, Captain\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn that case,\u201d interrupted Llyra, \u201cyou will comply with the captain\u2019s wishes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLlyra?!\u201d yelped Tarn. \u201cI don\u2019t understand! Your father gave me permission to search any vessels going through your space!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWithin reason, if I recall!\u201d countered Llyra. \u201cIf you do not allow either of the captain\u2019s choices to come to fruition, she has permission to destroy your vessel\u2019s engines and then search it to see if YOU are behind the Decepticon smuggling ring!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLlyra, this is outrageous!\u201d boomed Tarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI agree,\u201d replied Llyra, \u201cbut I will not allow this breach of legality to continue in my people\u2019s space! Now, release that ship immediately!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are your allies!\u201d urged Tarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo ahead!\u201d Llyra called to Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTactical, target the Peaceful Tyranny<\/em>\u2019s engines,\u201d ordered Trema. Tarn then made his decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVos, deactivate the tractor beam!\u201d he ordered. He then turned back to the screen. \u201cLlyra, your father and my Lord will hear of this!\u201d The call ended and the Peaceful Tyranny<\/em> left Nebulan space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re being hailed,\u201d reported Duros. \u201cIt\u2019s the Femaxian Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPut her through,\u201d replied Trema. The Femaxian Captain came through with a fat grin on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain,\u201d she greeted, \u201cthis is Captain Sharveen of the Femaxian Vessel Gold Medal<\/em>. I don\u2019t know what you said to the D.J.D, but it must have been good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain Sharveen,\u201d replied Trema, \u201cwith your permission, and the right amount of Arsanium, I would like to use your vessel and crews\u2019 image for my vessel\u2019s holo-cloak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou saved my ship from the D.J.D,\u201d answered Sharveen. \u201cIt would be rude of me to take any Arsanium from you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGiven the fright you may have had,\u201d argued Trema, \u201cI say Arsanium will help calm your nerves. Would 40 bars calm your nerves?\u201d Sharveen considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026No,\u201d she replied, \u201cbut 70 might.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c50,\u201d offered Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c60,\u201d countered Sharveen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDone,\u201d replied Trema. She turned to Duros. \u201cBeam over 60 bars of Arsanium to the Gold Medal<\/em>\u2019s bridge. Sharveen needs to be assured that the Arsanium is genuine.\u201d Duros did so and Sharveen checked the bronzish metal for authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScan away!\u201d she replied. The ship was subjected to a holo-scan and, after it was completed, left Nebulan space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, Trema,\u201d called Amy as she, Sira, and Natalie stepped from behind the chair, \u201cyou told us Nebulos had dealings with the Decepticons in the past. You never said you were part of their Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe rest of the planet may support the Decepticons,\u201d replied Trema, \u201cbut not my family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother reason for her distaste for me,\u201d mused Llyra. \u201cFather\u2019s a bit too friendly with the Decepticons. Shta, (Nebulan equivalent of Hell) he married a Decepticon after Mother died.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s news to me,\u201d remarked Trema. \u201cWho was the Decepticon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNightracer,\u201d explained Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat anti-social femme?!\u201d yelped Stylor. \u201cHow did a recluse like her get married?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought she died during the Great War!\u201d continued Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA little pet project of Shockwave\u2019s brought her back,\u201d answered Llyra. \u201cHer Spark was digitized and stored on a storage device hidden within her body. The device was then inserted into a blank protoform and it became a Spark chamber for Nightracer\u2019s new body. One time use for Spark safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Nebulan marrying a Transformer?\u201d muttered Amy. \u201cI somehow can\u2019t fathom that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat I can\u2019t fathom,\u201d hissed Llyra, \u201cis why Father insists on forgetting Mother!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I have the distinct feeling your relationship with your father is strained,\u201d observed Natalie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is,\u201d confirmed Llyra. \u201cFather doesn\u2019t know I have acquired a pardon for Galen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s why you insisted on coming,\u201d realized Trema. \u201cYou needed the family as witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can, at least, get us past the tougher areas like the patrols,\u201d replied Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d mused Trema. \u201cWhile this doesn\u2019t entirely have me liking you, this is a step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Thank you, Lady Trema,\u201d bid Llyra. \u201cMay your house prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd yours,\u201d replied Trema, returning the wish as manners demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s better,\u201d chuckled Amy as she smiled. Sira and Natalie could only agree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou\u2019ve been what?\u201d Trema asked Amy after a few days of flight. \u201cTalking to Llyra so I could get dresses that would flatter me,\u201d repeated Amy. \u201cAmy, I can\u2019t believe you\u2019re getting involved with her,\u201d snapped Trema. \u201cThe whole notion of you being friendly with her is ridiculous!\u201d \u201cI guess you\u2019re going to tell me […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,233],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-1558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-9-amys-alien-adventures","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1558","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1558"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1558\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1559,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1558\/revisions\/1559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}