The way things are

Stepping into his office, Lyam halted in surprise.

The man who sat in the chair across from his desk took a long drag from his cigarette. He was a Voidsmen of Suljeon; his eyes held the genetic coding of one, due to their mysterious grey-blue lustre. But it was not that which made the hairs on the back of his neck stand. It was the badge on his lapel.

The all-pointing star of the Office of Internal and Inter-Galactic Operations.

It was a dark black.

The badge of the director of OIIO.

"Have a seat, Mr. FitzIto. You and I need to have a little discussion...mostly about your love life." Kom Vo, head of the OIIO, snuffed out his cigarette, stuffing it into a nearby ashtray. He waited expectantly.

Lyam closed his eyes and swallowed. He had a feeling his little rendezvous with Charryon and Elania might illicit someone's attention; he just hoped it was not the feared OIIO. They were not the secret police, but their power was in making absolutely certain that the Imperial League was protected.

No matter the cost.

Of late, that was extending out to the rest of the Republic.

He took a step forward, opening his door and making his way around his desk. His hand was pulling at his neck-collar as if it were somehow choking him. Once he'd been settled in, the Director turned and regarded the young man with keen eyes. They weren't that far apart in terms of ages, but then the Voidsmen were notorious for aging very well, and lately, a lot of people had nicknamed the Imperial League as "the government of eternal youth," due to the amount of young bucks running around.

Most of them?

Talented politicians, soldiers, officers, law enforcement, and all.

Men passed off due to their ages, but were put to the test for their merits.

Prove their worth.

Just like Lyam.

The Director crossed one leg over the other. "Let me just make something clear here: your relationships are of very little concern to me in general. I'm aware, of course, about your visit with Lady Tussa...given I have a watch station on her at all times. And honestly...not an issue. She's good, got lots of potential. But not a security risk."

"But Elania is?" He asked, and watched as the Director's eyes narrowed.

Then a smile, wolf-like, crossed his lips. "You're quick. Yes," he frowned, "she's a risk. We don't know her that well...and we know that Tion likes to use people from their departments for their own means. Therefore, a bit of a risk...especially when you want her to be your girlfriend.

"Now, look," he raised his hands plaintively, "she's a fantastic woman to have. We've read her file, and she's an intelligent, sharp woman with a great degree of loyalty to her country. Honestly: great wife material. But right now? It's pretty dangerous, especially given your position. So: you're gonna end it."

"End it?" Lyam blinked. "Well...me and Lady Torello did come to a-"

"Arrangement? Yeah, I know. I listened to the convo between the two of you." Lyam appeared ready to snap at this, but Kom raised his hand. Stopping him. "Let me put it like this: listen to her. You can sleep with her, take her out on a nice date, all of that.

"No issues there. The issue is when you want her to be your girlfriend, to be your future wife. All of that? Cut it. End it. Send a message to her stating you will happily commit to these rendezvous, and that you will sometimes visit her. But you're going to end any notion of her being a possible wife."

Lyam was silent for a moment, trying to process this. It seemed as if he would immediately argue otherwise, but instead, he sat back and thought it over. He was not wrong, and to be fair, in the warmth of her arms, didn't she tell him to simply stop? Not in those exact words, but she had hinted in a way. Not in danger. But that she wasn't it.

She had a dream. She was intelligent and beautiful, she understood in ways that he could never...

He shook his head and recalled an important factor. "I understand these concerns from OIIO...but First Lady Vekira is a former Stassian special forces operator. Yet she's our co-ruler, the woman who has sired the First Lord's sons and daughter, and if he were to die, will lead us.

"I don't see how Elania could be a threat."

Kom's gaze hardened. He felt bad for the kid because he was thinking not with his balls but with his heart. He had the sense, it was there. Just didn't have the experience. He sighed and shook his head, "You're correct, Mister FitzIto. But there is a clear difference between one and the other. Valentina is loyal, yes...but Elania? Loyal, absolutely. To her state."

The Prime Minister leaned back. His heart was pounding again; he felt his head swim, not with exhilaration but stress. He felt his lips twitch in an aggrieved manner. "So...I should just give up? Just like that? Entirely? That's what you're telling me!?!" He raised his voice, "She's a secretary! But more than that, she's an intelligent woman! She has dreams, she-"

His head became dizzy...one moment, he was behind his desk.

Now he was on the floor...he felt something liquid coming out of his nose. His head now swam with pain.

He tried to stand up, but instead, someone else did it for him. Lifting by the scruff of his neck, Kom knelt next to him, staring into his eyes. Lyam felt fear; true fear, for the first time in his life. Those eyes...they were lifeless. Only caring for those close to him or his state. But they looked at Lyam as if he were a pest...

A fecal matter on his shoe.

"Listen here," it was an order as much as a statement. "You're the Prime Minister of the Imperial League. Her dreams don't mean anything. Your duty, your job, is to the Imperial League." His grip tightened as he sensed a retort from Lyam, choking it out; eyes staring at him harshly. As if he read his mind, he answered the unspoken response. "You can say you're young, and that you never wanted this. But sometimes, life throws things at us we don't want.

"It's shit, but that's how it is. And besides, the First Lord said you can leave anytime. Here, let me help you up and show you," he lifted him and set him in the chair as if he were a bag. From his pocket, he pulled out a document and set it on the desk. As Lyam read over what it said, his eyes widened.

It was a resignation letter.

"You can sign it, and then go and chase her dreams, help her out, and call it there. Or you can stay, and do your job." He paused. He could see the young man wanted to cry in fury; tears welling up in his eyes. For Kom Vo, raised in the harsh life of the Vo dynasty, he differed from others in that he could still feel...

Some empathy.

Recalling his wives, he softened his voice. "It doesn't hurt to have...a girlfriend. You're alone, I get it. But don't let your heart get in the way of your reason. If Elania really loves you...why didn't she say, love you too, hm?"

Lyam's eyes widened. He could feel his hands clench into a fist. He felt like he wanted to punch...all he could see was red. Just red.

His eyes turned in fury up at Kom, but the Director simply stared right back. Both men were silent, as if in some contest of wills. That's how Lyam saw it anyway. But Kom, he just pulled out a pen and set it on the desk. "Guys outside the door, if you resign. He'll be your replacement. You've got one hour."

Giving Lyam no time to respond, he walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

The young man looked down at the document. He was shocked. He was scared. He was furious.

Everything just...it didn't make sense.

I mean, she did tell him, right?

Of course, she had. That all of this was a risk. He thought back on it. He had never truly wanted this position. Yes, he was skilled, he was competent, but this...

This wasn't what he wanted.

Was everything a lie?

Tears, unbidden, began to roll down his cheeks. They covered the document. He didn't know what to do! What could he do! He didn't want to leave, he-

He just, everything was so wrong, it didn't make any sense.

A part of him begged for someone to give him the answers, to tell him what was right or wrong. Just somebody! Anybody!

He was answered with a clock.

And that was it.

One hour later, the document remained unsigned. The replacement was called off, and sent right home with a compensation of 345,000 Credits.