I've never seen General Lyra look so angry. She's usually the most composed Plutonian in the room but today her hairs in disarray and there's a long crease going down her uniform. She used to berate me if I ever came for training looking like this and I have to resist looking at the crease when she turns my way. 

"This entire trial is a mockery and a mess," She exclaims and the lines on her forehead multiply as she frowns. "The longer we drag this on, the more people are going to sympathise with those criminals."

I purse my lips, thinking about Lazarus and my father. Both have been taken into protection after the explosions and it's been five cycles since. The general consensus is that the explosions in the court were aimed at them. That's the propaganda going around but we both know that only two Plutonians had the most to gain with the trial being stalled. 

General Grievous and Lazarus. 

And not to mention me but General Lyra doesn't know about the blackmail.

"They are now demanding for a release without trial. There's been no evidence thus far and all missions have been stalled. The officers are restless and even though he's behind bars, Lazarus's support grows by the day." She shoots me a look as if I'm the root of that problem. 

"Any progress on tracking down the culprits who attacked us in court? That could not have been easy. The SyStem is filled with cameras and we can trace every officer's whereabouts within the building with their trackers." 

The general sits down abruptly and grabs the drink in front of her. She takes a long swig of it and I can smell the alcohol from across the table. 

"The camera feeds are hazy, the culprits were masked and they knew all the blind spots. The C4 used to detonate that wall has no serial number, it was most likely smuggled in. We're going through the trackers but thousands of officers circulate the SyStem everyday. To narrow them down would be short of impossible." 

I fold my hands before me and stare at the blank table separating the two of us. I have this window to somehow worm my way out of giving a statement. Honestly if the trial is dismissed, it wouldn't be the worst thing. 

"This needs to stop. It's interfering with our plans for the coming cycles. There is supposed to be a divide to split up leadership but not like this. If we carry on like this, Lazarus is sure to take over. Too many Plutonians are sympathising with him. Can you imagine? They believed their experiments were a work in progress and we interrupted the whole thing?" General Lyra complains in frustration.

I lean forward. "But what about all the humans who were killed?"

She waves me off like she's swatting at a fly. "Oh please, when have we ever cared for a humans life?" 

I sit back defeatedly but then it hits me. "You want to stop the trial?" 

If the general wants the same thing as I do then this is something I can work with. 

"I think it's imperative that we stop this from dragging on. Lucian's statement didn't do much and I doubt yours will either. If we drag this debauchery on any longer, it may result in a civil war and judging by how things are going, I'd bet on Lazarus winning."

She takes another gulp of her drink and I notice how red her eyes are. "When the timing is right, we get rid of the rest. Lucian and you take over as leaders. That is what we have been working towards. I told you not to interfere, Luna." 

I swallow hard as she stares daggers at me. 

"I told you to let it be, that the truth will come to light either way. If you had just left it as it was, the failed experiments would have been their downfall." 

"General Aldric and General Mondric were behind this as well. And Lucian," I answer defensively, feeling like a child being scolded. 

She places her elbows on the table and runs her fingers through her hair a few times. Now I know why it's all over the place. 

"Aldric can be managed. Mondric on the other hand..." She trails off and I immediately think of Lucian and his bruises. Does he hurt his wife too? 

"General," I say carefully. "Is everything alright?" 

She looks at me and I'm taken a back by how distraught she looks. "It's bad, Luna. The public has begun to find out about the trial and Lazarus.... that scum of a male has really built a backing over the years. Even the generals don't have this kind of pull over our civilians. They all believe he's being framed."

"He has the weapon's dealers and our major investors backing him, saying that the trial is too harsh a punishment. It will be so much worse if he's sent into exile. There will be a war and we are not ready for it. We need to build yours and Lucian's base more. I'm telling you we are not ready!" Her voice picks up a notch and I nod fervently. 

"You're right. We must stop this." Now it's more imperative than ever. 

"And how do you propose we do that?" The general snaps making me flinch.

I have to swallow the apprehension I feel, internally telling myself that it's not me whom she's angry with. 

"We should allow all missions to commence as per usual. That will reduce tensions within the army." I sit up straight, answering her confidently. 

"Aldric and Mondric are interviewing a judge as we speak---"

"The memory devices!" I blurt out excitedly and my nerves begin to buzz as the idea percolates. 

"What about them?" She says, eyeing me skeptically. I'm surprised she isn't following my train of thought. We're usually very in sync when it comes to these things. 

"They can read memories but what if we could tweak them to take them away?"  Why have I never thought of this before?

Her eyes widen and then she pulls her hands back, clasping them together. "And you propose we use them on the generals?" 

Well, General Aldric in particular but why not hit two birds with one stone? Maybe Mondric will forget about abusing Lucian for a change. The more I think about it, the more hopeful I get.

"Which is why we need to resume missions. So that Plutonians start to forget about the trials."

"All I need to do is convince the commanders of a lesser indictment. It should be doable, considering the only Plutonians fixated on the trial are those two." 

"Our annual delegation in Cixin is due in eight cycles!" I exclaim excitedly. "It's one of the only times that the generals travel together. We can use it on them then." 

General Lyra strokes her chin. "Eight days. We've worked with less before. I think it's doable. To erase their memories would be suspicious, I will work on altering them. Or we could stage an accident if it comes to that. I'll leave you to rounding them up in the same room."

I'm smiling now. Hope getting the better of me even though this may not work.

"Let us not meet till then. General Aldric has been watching you recently. We don't want to arouse suspicion. Should there be any issues with the devices, I will let you know." 

***

I head home after the long day and am surprised to see one of Lazarus's squad members waiting outside. 

"PG Luna." He stands up straight and addresses me with a salute. 

"Commander Syphus, what are you doing here?" 

"PG Lazarus has agreed to meet with you. I've come to escort you to his holding cell." 

I stop in place and stare at him blankly. I honestly did not expect Lazarus to say yes when I requested an audience with him. 

It's been four cycles since I asked and after the second cycle, I'd forgotten about my request but now I find myself chewing on my fingernail as Syphus takes me to the edge of the city. Special holding cells were built for Lazarus and General Grievous while they awaited trial. 

We walk past heavily guarded barricades and through a maze like garden that towers over us. I inhale the fresh air, filled with oxygen from the plants all around us. The dewy air kisses my skin and I run a palm over the fresh leaves until a thorn cuts into my skin. 

"We are here," Syphus leads me to the centre of the maze and I see a large chamber with a glass encasing. The room is empty and I turn to see Lazarus sitting outside in the garden. 

I bring my finger to my lips to stop the bleeding as I walk up to him. He's sitting on an iron chair, hands unbound as he picks up a cream roll from the table in front of him. 

This hardly looks like a prison. The moisture rich air makes him look healthier than ever, there's a rosy glow on his cheeks as he smiles at me. He looks too relaxed for someone who may or may not be cast into exile. 

"You look well," I say, taking a seat in front of him. 

"I am well," He says and then he pours me a cup of tea. "Try some. It's a flower from Oceanus." 

I frown, taking the cup from him. This is not at all what I expected when I came here today. "Thank you for seeing me."

I look around at the walls of green surrounding us and notice that Syphus is gone. Panic runs through me as I stare at the small opening leading into the maze. 

"Don't worry. There are guards all over, watching. Not that I would do anything to you." He shakes his head and swallows the cream roll. "Mhmm, these are delicious. Have one." 

"You must be angry with me." I say softly, eyes wary of his every movement. 

"It's a little late for that." 

"The explosions, that was you, wasn't it?" I try my luck by asking but get no answer. Lazarus takes a sip of his tea and gestures for me to do the same. I do as he says and the sweet taste astonishes me. It is like the chocolate from Earth.

"How did you do it? How have you spun the entire thing in your favour?" I ask him curiously. "After everything you did, they still love you." 

"Everything I do is for the good of the Plutonian race. That is why." He tells me and I watch as he runs a finger across the rim of his cup. "Which is why I don't understand why you turned on me, Luna."

"Our engagement is over, Lazarus. I owed it to you to tell you in person." 

"You owe me no such thing." He waves me off nonchalantly. I keep waiting for the switch to go off, for him to attack me or say something cruel but it never happens. 

My leg starts to shake and I put my hand over it. "Thank you for handling this so cordially." It feels weird, talking to him so formally. 

"Tell me, when Lucian pulled you away from that courtroom, did you two end up making out afterwards? Did he press you against the wall and make love to you as I would have?"

My cheeks heat up and I prepare to defend myself, my entire body on edge. How could he know? 

"We did not make love." I say automatically before I can wonder why I'm answering. 

He chuckles. "And you never will." 

"We're engaged, Lazarus. I wanted you to know from me." 

"How kind of you." His tone is now biting. "Did you plan this? Get rid of me while you ran the planet with Lucian?" 

Now I'm genuinely offended. "I would never do that. I would never send you away." 

"Then it's a good thing I'm not going anywhere." He tells me sarcastically. 

"PG Luna, your time is up." Syphus suddenly makes an appearance and I nod at Lazarus. 

"Thank you for your time, Lazarus." I stand up and make my way to the exit.

"You wont be marrying anyone else, Luna. Of that I am certain." 

"It is not up to you." I tell him sordidly and then I leave just as quickly. The quiet confidence he had left me unnerved. I can't help but wonder what he has up his sleeve.