POV: Lyra
I took a deep breath before spilling the beans. "So you both already know the number of Rogue attacks last cycle was, by far, the worst. And applications for relief following those attacks were undoubtedly a lot as well. But less than 10% of the submitted applications ever made it past the phase of 'being reviewed'. And out of our own 132 allied stations who were attacked last cycle, we found that only twenty of them got their relief applications approved. But only four out of those had the credits disbursed to their station. The rest still have 'credit disbursement pending' on their status. Here comes the part that really hurts."
I took another deep breath, my skin shifting to an uncomfortable yellow-green. "We call the relief a gamble, like a Wheel of Fortune. And getting credits is like hitting the jackpot. So, stations that successfully received funds are obliged to throw a station celebration, just among their own personnel, to celebrate their good luck. And they have to send holo-recordings as proof of the celebration. There was this one party that even had their own Wheel of Fortune simulation booth for station members to play with and claim all sorts of second-hand equipment as prizes. That was probably the most... creative station celebration thrown last cycle."
The two cousins radiated a mixture of hurt and anger through their pathways—Orion's purple turning dark, Christian's usually calm blue flashing to angry red. I added sheepishly, "I'm sorry I laughed. You both work really hard. I'm sure it was just a glitch in the system or something."
"Oh, it was a glitch alright." Christian's voice had never been so menacing until now as he looked at a table further down the hall, where most of the ministers sat. I turned but wasn't sure where his sights were set, so I turned back to them and said, "Again, I'm sorry. I should've—"
"Sweetheart, don't apologize." Orion's face was still serious when he took my hand and kissed it, neural sparks cascading between us, before placing it on his lap as he stroked it lovingly.
Very cautiously, I said, "If it makes either of you feel any better, you both have practically been approving relief applications these past few days when you spoke to station personnel, so the process has sped up for many of them. It's just the issue of disbursement now."
After another moment of awkward silence, I asked, "So, is there anything else you'd like to know? I'll be more considerate and empathetic when I break the news this time."
Christian looked at Orion in frustration, his pathways pulsing erratically, and groaned. "Cuz, just tell her. She thinks she offended us. You didn't, by the way, my Empress."
I asked in confusion, my skin cycling through confused purple, "Then why do you both look like you're about to vaporize someone for wronging you?"
Orion now held my hand in both of his to kiss it, more sparks flowing, and began explaining, "Lyra, the Lyrokan warriors are available free-of-charge."
My eyes widened in surprise, all six facets catching the light. "Oh, it has changed already? That's great!"
Orion frowned, his pathways dimming. "No, Lyra. It has always been free. At least, it was supposed to be."
I felt my skin shift to shocked white. "No, that can't be right. It says so right on the application interface that charges will be imposed. Here, let me show you." I took out my data pad and accessed the network for the application database, opening up a digital document. I swiped down until I found the options and passed my pad to Orion. "Here, in fine print, next to the option for Lyrokan warriors. 'Charges are within the full discretion of the Ministry, to be confirmed after provision of aid'. It's small but it's highlighted in red so none of us missed it."
Christian was leaning in to see the words on the enlarged holo-display and, like he was being possessed, took the pad from Orion's hand without a word. He started scrolling through the entire document with a serious expression, his pathways flickering with each new revelation.
When I finally realized what was going on, my stomach dropped. I said softly and meekly, "You both didn't know. That's why you asked." I nodded to myself as I processed this information, my skin shifting through several distressed colors. "So the station relief was more than a glitch of the computer system."
"We have corrupted ministers in our midst, absorbing credits that were supposed to be given to stations." Orion explained, his jaw clenched. He sighed before continuing, "I'm going to get the financial details of all the ministers by tomorrow night, and call for a meeting the day after. It's time to find out who's behind it. Someone has been siphoning large sums of credits. If they were confident they weren't going to get caught because of how distant our species were, then I'd say tracing the credits wouldn't be too hard."
I suggested, "Then, you might want to speed up that process."
"What do you mean by that, my Empress?" Christian came out of his daze but still held my data pad.
I shrugged, my skin shifting to tactical silver—my planning color. "Well, I blurted it at training today. Maybe Whitlaw and Cummings ran away not because they were afraid of my lecture but because they didn't want me to blurt more inconsistencies with what they know and what they want you both to know."
Orion turned to his cousin, pathways flashing with determination. "She's right. We're both going to the financial tracking division now, Christian."
"Let's go." Christian said monotonously and stood up, his pathways still pulsing with barely contained rage.
I stopped him abruptly. "Uh, Christian. I'd like my data pad back, please."
He looked at his hand. "Oh, stars. I'm so sorry, my Empress. I didn't notice." His voice was returning to normal at this point, pathways cooling back to blue.
"It's okay. You've had a lot to think about." I said as I took it back from him.
I then asked Orion, "If anyone asks where you both went, what do you want me to say?"
Orion smiled, his pathways warming to that purple I'd grown to love. "Tell you what, come with us."
I seemed unsure, my skin betraying my nervousness with shifting colors. "Are you sure? Is that even okay? I mean, I'm not officially the Empress yet."
Orion kissed my forehead, sending pleasant neural sparks through my consciousness. He found my uncertainty absolutely adorable at that moment. "It'll be alright. It looks less suspicious if we leave together as mates than with only Christian and I walking out of the hall. If we left you here, some of them would suspect we're dealing with state affairs. I don't want them to do anything until we've gotten all the information we need."
I took one glance at the Kaelari community, all still engaged in conversations with various Lyrokan officials, and told Orion, "Okay, then."
Orion's smile broadened, his pathways brightening further, and he planted a second kiss on my forehead. We walked out hand-in-hand, our neural connection humming contentedly between us. Christian left first to stave off suspicions, his pathways carefully controlled to neutral white despite the anger still simmering beneath.
Time to find out just how deep this corruption runs, I thought as we headed toward the financial tracking division.