The Moon's Fangs | 1
30 | The Circle

Nolan

The conference chamber went up in an uproar in a matter of minutes.

The deceitfully civil conversation amplified into a cacophony of counselors blowing a gasket over the newest addition of problems. Not the towering stack, including careless astral energy usage, the ever-growing need for space and recourses in Asylum, or how to handle the escalating Horde Raids outside of the barrier.

No, no. They were far more concerned about the tiny stack currently affecting them.

In a way, Nolan found it quite comical to watch. It wasn’t every day he had the honor to witness members of the Circle get their panties in a twist… semi-publicly.

He’d never seen the renowned Circle who made up the orleizen council so bent out of shape over anything. Watching them now, you’d think the astral barrier was collapsing down on top of them. It gave him a sense of delight, like how young humans on Earth feel on their birthdays. He hoped the cake would be the sweet flavor of a mental breakdown.

If only he'd seen the outbreak from the beginning – the looks on their noble-ass faces when they first learned of the waypoint breach along the inner outskirts. Had it started off with hushed conspiracies and hearsay before bubbling up to create this glorious eruption?

Nolan had just happened to be in the area when his poor excuse for a father sent out a unit to investigate the breach. The General was absolutely furious when they came up short of capturing the person responsible.

Normally, Nolan would chalk it up to crappy or lazy soldiers, if not trained by himself, of course. But crazy thing about this case, in particular, was that he snuck in with the unit and saw with his own eyes how the mysterious offender left no trace of evidence to lead to their identity. It’s still unbelievable to think he or she could have disappeared so quickly.

“It had to be someone with access!” Councilor Ophir, the financial advisor, claimed with a wild hand gesture. “If not us, then one of our children or their friends breaking rules.”

“Absurd! The only grounds for one of the high-ranking progenies to do something so outlandish is if they were intermingled in a romance with an off-worlder. That would have surely set off the breach.” Councilor Sitara, the fate lector, said, which was followed by some nods of heads from other members.

Nolan held in a smirk. Councilor Sitara always linked any problem to forbidden romance. Coincidentally, those were her favorite type of novels as well. It’s rumored Sitara’s personal room chambers were filled with books of forbidden love stories in hundreds of languages across the worlds.

“What would you have me do - question every high-ranking progeny in the empire? Demand them to divulge their love lives?” his father crossed his arms in annoyed pretense. “The waypoints keep a log of usage. And the last person on that log used it several days ago. It’s plain to see we have an illicit hacker on our hands. This was not the work of our children.”

It was interesting how his father worded that - like it was impossible for someone of a high-ranking class to stoop so low.

“Idiots! If it were a high-ranking child, it would have never set off a breach in the first place. They have access to those waypoints. Use your heads!” Councilor Tariq snapped, always quick to back whatever nonsense oozed from his father's mouth. "Explain this, Gildan. Energy Monitoring is under your jurisdiction."

Gildan, who obviously didn't know jack-squat, shot him a red-eyed glare, then went back to searching for answers on several projection screens she had up. She took a deep swig of a drink Nolan had a pretty good suspicion to be an off-market altered brew. Gildan often abused her rank to get her hands on concentrated alerted blends, like an over-the-top caffeine addict.

All their allegations only stirred the pot further, spinning the argument into a huge jumble Nolan didn’t feel like paying close attention to.

He puffed out his cheeks and leaned back into his seat, touching shoulders with his brother, Nikoe on one side and Danika on the other, where they were surrounded by other high-ranking progenies who had no idea if they were supposed to be suspects or not, just biding their time until the Circle finally dismissed them.

Nolan audibly blew out the air puff and whispered under his breath to where only Nikoe and Danika could hear him. “Well, this is fun.”

“Be respectful, you twit.” Nikoe shot him a glare. “This is a serious problem. Father could be held responsible for the unit’s negligence for not catching whoever was behind this.”

Nolan pursed his lips, glancing over at his brother. He looked exhausted. Dark shadows layered under his eyes from assisting units in all-nighter searches for the unknown suspect. If his brother pursued his love interest as passionately as he did for their damned father’s reputation, Nikoe would’ve already scored his fated flame by now. If he pulled his head out of their father's ass, he'd see tons of girls pining for him.

“What’d you expect, Noles?” Danika tilted her head to look at them both. “The only people who have access to the waypoint in question is everyone in this very room. The only way one of us could have set off a breach is if we allowed someone to walk through it with us. And everyone swears up and down they’re innocent. What if someone from an enemy nation got their hands on an orleizen Guide? I don’t know how that would even work, but it’s still a scary thought.”

Nolan took that into consideration for a second. “An enemy with a Guide and high-ranking access like that is a danger to you and me.”

Danika hit his chest with the back of her hand. “Sakes, Nolan. Take this seriously.”

He mouthed the word, ow, and rubbed at where her pointy ring hit him.

“No, Dani’s onto something.” Nikoe leaned over him conspiratorially, keeping his voice low. “An orleizen Guide. Key word. If we look at it that way, inward, we can narrow our suspects down to the Black Market, their buyers, District Seven scum, and… I dunno, surviving orleizen exiles? Who else with the motif would have access to a Guide of Orlaith?”

“Maybe a handful of citizens in Asylum. But the ones that come to mind would've had to lose their minds to do something like this. And I just can’t see them pulling it off, in all honesty.” Danika said, biting at the tip of her thumbnail.

“That idea would take the heat off of all the high ranks.” Nolan looked from the sputtering Circle to his shoes. “But what kind of reaction would Asylum have if they realized we pointed the finger at them? It wouldn’t be pretty. If we split this rift between the underground from the surface even further than what it already is…” he shook his head. “We already have enough bad blood as is.”

“You’ve really got your work cut out for you, Dani.” Nikoe looked over at her with a grimace. “By the time you get that seat, we’re gonna have a damn revolt between us and the dwellers.”

“Stop calling them that.” She scowled. “And don’t jinx it. There’s still a while to go before they choose who’ll earn the empty seat among the Circle.” she rubbed her temple. “What do you think we should do then? Propose the idea or leave them to their own devices? I don’t want it to turn into us against them kind of thing. I’m afraid it’ll get twisted into that.”

“They’re bound to shift blame towards them anyways…” Nikoe’s body abruptly shifted, like an epiphany hit him in the face. He hunched his shoulders to lean in closer to whisper in his ear. “Dude. What about that guy you mentioned back at Altered? The one you said nabbed that Amelia chick.”

Nolan’s back tensed. “Yeah. You mean the one who practically vanished into thin air? Finding him’s gonna be like trying to replace the Lost City of Atlantis on Earth.” He said, already knowing that place belonged to the Eldoris Nebula - a place literally impossible to replace on planet Earth since that portal shattered forever ago.

“You’re such an exaggerator.” Nikoe rolled his eyes. “You’re just mad he slipped through your fingers… which is pretty embarrassing considering your position.”

Nolan held in the spike of irritation his brother instilled and instead intertwined his fingers behind his head. “What can I say? He’s a slippery fella.” he grinned, masking the frustration.

“Hey, that could be something.” Danika prompted, leaning in too, completing the Nolan-sandwich. “Did you at least get a read on the kidnapper’s Guide? If this is our guy, we can save Amelia from being his hostage and knock out our number one suspect in one fell swoop. Nikoe mentioned you went looking for them in the seventh district. So? Tell us.” she urged.

Damn. He should’ve known Nikoe wouldn’t keep that a secret from Danika. They tell each other literally everything.

He knew it was bound to come out sooner or later. But was now really the right time for him to disclose how he couldn’t get a reading on that stranger? He tried. Several times! Nolan already suspected the breach to be because of that guy - in fact, he knew it had to be.

Nolan couldn’t tell Nikoe and D that. If he told them, would either of them share the information with the Circle? They would. Both would feel duty-bound.

Nolan didn’t like the idea of the entirety of the orleizen council and their war dogs gunning for the guy… solely because he had Amelia. And besides, he already worked so hard on planting the seeds for things to go his way in the end. Spilling the beans now would only screw up all his hard work and calculated planning.

On the other hand, he also hated lying to them. Danika and Nikoe, that is. He didn’t give a flying fudgesickle about lying to his father.

“Awful lot of whispering going on over there in the pews.” General Rhosyn accused, glaring daggers at the three of them. “Now, if you have so much to discuss on the matter that is more important than paying respect to the Circle, please,” he made a wide, sharp sweeping gesture with an arm. “Do share.”

Shayd be damned. That misplaced smile of his dad’s made Nolan’s skin crawl.

The people sitting around them shuffled uncomfortably, hating even being in close enough proximity to the General’s pointed glare. If only they understood his bark was far worse than his bite. A show.

A man utterly unworthy of his title. A coward. For the past few years, that’s all he saw when looking at his father.

Nolan shrugged in response, a small gesture that took the pressure off his brother and Danika and directed it more toward him instead. Better for him to take the brunt of the heat than them.

To add flint to the fire, Nolan kicked up and crossed his boots on the fancy ledge they sat behind. “Oh, me? I was just spitballin’… thinking this breach might be tied to the breach in the Circle’s security a few days ago. You know, the one you’ve all been hush-hush about.” That comment spawned a number of widened stares from the councilors. He continued. “Did you know something like this hasn’t happened since the Fall of the empire? There’s never been a breach like this the Circle hasn’t been able to nip in the bud because your jurisdiction has always been able to replace the cause in no time.”

“And what exactly are you getting at?” Councilor Sitara asked, straightening uncomfortably in her seat.

This was it. His opening to change the directory of this problem - his chance to buy more time.

He gave the council a serious look, holding back the grin he wore so often. “Have you considered—really considered—the longevity of our source of energy? And no, don't say Gildan's on it, 'cause you and I both know that's bull. No one can check because no one alive has the proper rank to unlock the seals in place. I mean, if the reliquary's running low, then maybe that’s our true culprit. Something random could have slipped through by accident during a shortage.”

This sent a cold awareness to skate across everyone in the room. He sensed both Nikoe and Danika freeze up next to him, stunned by his out-of-nowhere comment and the severity of it.

Talk about the astral barrier and their energy source was never discussed - always ignored. It bothered him how The Circle delayed the inevitable. One day the energy keeping them safe would run out, and no one knew when that would happen. An intangible ticking timebomb.

It made for a perfect topic to make those around him squirm, as well as advert their attention from what he didn’t want to be detected. Yet.

It worked like a charm.

By the growing annoyance ticking away at his father’s temple, he knew this oh-so-fierce General would want to have a private, albeit vehement discussion with him later today. Nothing he couldn’t handle, of course. Sitting through a loud, spit-flying lecture was practically nothing to him now.

Councilor Varkin, the head of The Circle, barely lifted his gaze from the reports on his desk to speak up for the first since the meeting commenced. “Now, now, Nicolo. Your son does make valid points. I’d think you’d be keen to agree with Nolan since your unit came up empty-handed. His argument makes you look less incompetent. Does it not?”

The General sneered. “These children are not here to make points. They are here to answer to the council. Those who run their mouths so openly should be punished accordingly.”

“Not when you gave him the floor.” Varkin laughed, gesturing to Nolan with a chin-lifting smile. “General… if you are upset your son gave away to having knowledge of the first breach, don’t be. I often confide in my own son over matters. If we do not confide in them over real-world problems, then how do we expect them to take our places one day? And sometimes, it can pay off to have ears where ours cannot hear. Isn’t that right, Orinzah?”

Nolan had to keep the ick from curling his expression as he tilted his head up to look behind himself, noting how Orinzah had snuck down to sit at the podium behind him. Damn. When'd that happen?

Orinzah caught the projection coin he’d been flipping between his fingers. “I’m inclined to agree, Councilor Varkin. It’s amazing what you can learn when listening to the right conversations.” Orinzah winked down at him, D, and Nikoe.

Nolan winked back, feigning conformity towards him. He hoped Orinzah hadn't caught wind of anything viable.

"It's plain to see our progenies, especially the sleepy few in hiding in the back, have suffered our debate long enough." Councilor Varkin tossed them a friendly smile. "Everyone's dismissed. The Circle will continue this conversation later today."

Everyone who wasn’t a part of the Circle stood in quiet understanding and moved to leave. Nolan made a point to leave first, losing D and his brother before they could catch up and snipe answers he was unwilling to give… not of his own volition. No. He wasn’t a coward like his father. He couldn’t be.

One part of him couldn’t wait to see the looks on their faces when their stage crumbled under them. But the other part wished the day would never come.

Too late to turn back now. Too much depended on him seeing it through to the very end.