Calan - The Immortality Paradox

Chapter Eleven: The Queen of New Avalon, Part Two

Date: 217, OA19,654

Location: Camelot, New Avalon, Kray System

Contrary to her principles, Zhě decided to heed the Creditmaster's formal demands, and found herself some more respectable attire. First impressions were everything, especially if she was going to convince this Queen Lucretia to offer the entire defence of her sovereign to a foreigner. Amidst the miscellany of scientific equipment she'd brought with her from Hoàng Mai, she remembered receiving a collection of items the support team believed would be useful for full societal integration. In between a makeshift steel sword, wooden shield and an extremely large mammal-skinned cloak, she found a gold-gilded peplos. Beyond the event horizon of her comfort zone, Zhě begrudgingly retrieved it from the collection.

On the knobbly, cobblestone road leading up to the gates of Camelot, Zhě suddenly recalled that she'd forgotten to recharge the battery of her mobile c-unit. It didn't bother her too much, but the embarrassment of breaking down in the middle of an antiquarian castle brought out the comedian in her. I'll be like a beautifully dressed fish, writhing about on land.

She was greeted at the iron-railed portcullis by Oakes and a flank of four guardsmen. He peered at her with blatant amusement through the square gaps as she parked herself on the threshold. Bastard. Probably made up the dress code as a test to see what I'd come up with. Now who's the fucking fool? The Creditmaster gently raised his hand as a signal, and the portcullis started rising with it in a cacophony of aged squeaks and a few undignified grunts. A defence mechanism fit for a rudimentary fortress.

'What's the point of this?' She shouted over the noise.

The Creditmaster gave her a dirty look. As the portcullis reached its maximum height, the sound dissipated. 'The walls and entrances of Camelot have guarded the Royal family for generations.'

'Against what exactly?' Zhě wheeled herself into the awaiting courtyard of the castle, the guardsmen eyeing her cautiously. Their nervousness betrayed by clenched fists around their halberds. She tugged the peplos tighter about her strong shoulders 'The civilians just outside are hardly likely to attack, and any foreigners would just bombard you from above. Mercilessly.'

Oakes appeared to take particular offense at the comment and placed his arm along his sash as if protecting his authority. 'What does it matter to you?'

Zhě regarded him displeasingly. 'That's why I'm here!' Using the remote with dextrous skill, she span around on the spot, surveying the internal structures with a critical eye. She sighed - excessively. 'Where are we meeting?'

'This way - Wanderer.'

It rapidly became evident that the castle itself was deceptively expansive. An overindulgent amount of pretentiously decorated hallways, and more sconces than she imagined they could keep alight. Bedecked in rich rufous and olive tones, the halls were in stark dissimilarity to her bare and drab apartment; hidden within the facade of a virtuous bastion. From what she could gauge from brief glances, the numerous quarters were just as sumptuous; all glowing welcomingly in candlelight. It struck Zhě plainly that this was a place so far lost in its own self-importance that she struggled not to laugh. There was exuberance and blind egotism and entire asteroids overflowing with the vanity of a single, conceited pillock back in Hanner Cylch. But Camelot, wrapped in its own primitive bubble, was a whole new species of moronic. But, perhaps those living within the theatre had lost all perception.

Allowing her entourage to enjoy her mobility chair's descent down a flight of, naturally, stone steps, she decided to ask her burning question. 'Who lives in this castle, apart from the Queen?'

The Creditmaster incorrectly took this as a sign of her regard for the place. 'Making preparations to move in immediately, are we Wanderer?'

'Not exactly, Creditmaster.' Zhě said causticly. 'I'm curious about the number of quarters you have here in this grand fortress.'