Chapter 10g

“Arrest?” Ben butted in again. “For running through the Villa? As far as I know she didn't cause one scrap of damage to anything at all. There isn't any proof whatsoever to even hint at that assassination claim. She came to see Creed, he wasn't here, she set off to return home, you assumed her motives to be nefarious because of her status and occupation.” He raised his voice. He'd heard enough of Marx's bullshit. All he was going to do here was throw as much irrelevant crap into the situation as he could and turn it into some sort of scandal that he could work on. Toller would eventually get fed up, and lost, listening to who's charming whom, and conclusions based on prejudice, and just arrest the cause of it, Kore, until the Military argued itself to a settlement. That could take an age and Ben had seen it all before and every time involving Louis Marx. “What do assassins do, General Marx?” Ben asked suddenly.

“What?” Marx frowned at Ben. “An assassin is one who acts on behalf of a body, usually, and in this case, the gladiators, to eliminate an influential or important individual. Don't play games Astrella, I'm sure the Governor is in no mood.”

“The Governor most definitely isn't.” Toller snapped. “What sort of moronic question is that Astrella?”

“Correct me if I'm wrong, I've been away on duty, but isn't the south wall under repair?” Ben asked and Marx nodded. “So security measures would mean that no dignitaries would be housed on the premises, only the staff involved in the repairs and the supervising Military. Who did she intend to assassinate, Marx? There's no one here. She knew Creed was supervising the repairs, that's why she came here. She told that to Bowman, he's just stated as much. I suppose she might not have known that our security laws mean that the place can't be occupied in this condition, but you know.” Ben pointed at Marx. “You issued a code one alarm due to an assassination threat that you knew was impossible. Even you aren't pompous enough to assign yourself ambassadorial status Marx.”

“It does seem as though you acted a tad pre-emptively, Marx.” Toller glared at the General. “I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, however. I can see how the appearance of a gladiator at an Ambassadorial Villa would automatically arouse suspicions among a Military guard.” Ben tried not to heave too loudly. “I'm not sure about the Cadets present here's involvement in official issues over this last day, but the ranked officers here will appreciate an extra factor that might cause General Marx to react over cautiously regarding this gladiator in particular.” He paused to let this sink in. Leo's arrest. “The code one alarm should never have been issued, and I'm confident that if General Marx had thought more deeply into it, and the security laws, then he'd never have ordered it. Panic, gentleman, nothing more.” Toller concluded. “This incident will be reported as a preventative measure based on a senior officer's reasonable doubt of an unauthorised person on a guarded, official premises. Good night gentlemen.” He glowered at the officers in general then stalked out of the room.

“You didn't expect me to be reprimanded did you Astrella?” Marx drawled.

“I didn't realise this was about you, Marx.” Ben said nastily. “I do think he was right though, you did panic, but I think you had a different reason for doing so than Kore turning up to haunt you. You would never have reflexively thought to issue that level warning unless there was a real need. You cocked up by forgetting that this 'need' wasn't public knowledge, didn't you?”

“You're overly tired Astrella, go and get some sleep.” Marx sniffed.

“Who was here Marx?” Ben said darkly. “Why were you here? Generals don't oversee construction work in case they get their hands dirty, especially not jumped up ones like you. You took advantage of a temporarily unused building for something and that something involved a person who warranted a code one alarm when you panicked because a 'rebel' broke loose. Am I pretty close? While I'm on the subject, why did she take off? She didn't flee from Bowman and she was alone in the room with him too. Why did she assault you and only you? Maybe for the same reason she did all those years ago?”

“You're digging on very dangerous ground Astrella.” Marx pointed in Ben's face. “Dig too far and you'll fall through the surface and be eaten up by what's going on underneath. Pape!” He stormed out of the study, Pape obediently following.