A Battle Unseen

[Doc]

Ananto Manor, Eveari  August 2, 4:30 pm

Princess Margaret strode into the room  The Empress was sitting behind the desk and looked up to see her sister, recently discharged from National Service marching into her office unannounced, and as a matter of fact, unexpected.  She put her pen down and sat back.  Margret pulled up a large comfortable chair to the desk with out much effort and sat down fairly dramatically.

"Welcome home," said Mary.  "To what do we owe this visit?"

"Sign me up," said the gregarious and rambunctious Margaret.

"Sign you up?" asked a slightly bemused Mary.  "Sign you up for what?"

"I don't know...  anything...  what do you need me to do?"

"Relax.  I am not even sure what you are talking about," answered the Empress.

"I want to be of service to the Government.  I want to do something important."  Margaret was growing impatient.

"Meg, you just got out of service.  Take some time, relax, let your hair down, be free.  You have served the Empire admirably."

"Mary, I think I can help.  What do you need me to do?  I want to do something public."

The Empress sat back in her seat and thought.  "What you should do now is be a free young woman.  You're starting college here in a month.  Go around the country, see the sights, do you.  Enjoy your life."

"Mary, look...  I really want to keep working.  I think I can make a contribution.  I'm part of this family too...  I..."

Mary sat forward and looked her in the eye.  "Meg.  I promise you that there will be more work for you than you know what to do with.  Being my sister will become your entire life soon enough.  I want you to have some time for yourself before you get into this mess-- Once you step foot into it, you won't ever be done with it."  Mary shifted topics effortlessly.  "You want to study theory and languages, yes?"

"Yeah, totally.  Artanian languages.  Why?"

"Would you ever consider studying foreign policy analysis rather than theory?"

Margaret gave her sister a quizzical look.  "No...  I guess I never have..."

Mary nodded.  "Perhaps you'll take a look into it."  She then abruptly asked:  "How do you feel about Lhasa?"

"Lhasa?  um... like Lhasa Lhasa?"  Mary nodded.  "I suppose I have never really given Lhasa any thought.  I heard they have good skiing there, I suppose."

"They do," answered Mary.  After a small amount of thought, she took out a small sheet of paper and wrote a name on it.  "Do me a favor, alright?  Before you start the term, I'd like you to take a trip to Lhasa for me and go speak to this man."

Margaret took a paper.  On it was a name:  "Dr. Thomas Cooke, Lhasa University, Department of Theater."

"Who is this?" asked Margaret.

"He's a man I want you to talk to before you start school."

"But who is he?"

Mary laid her pen down and stared at her sister.  "Look Meg.  Just talk to him.  He'll be expecting you."

Margaret sensed there was something more to this request than her sister let on.  "Lhasa, huh?"

Mary nodded.  "Lhasa..."  Margaret suddenly put two and two together.  A serious weight settled over the room.

"I'll go see him."

"But you need to go to school, Meg.  I need someone around who knows what they are talking about."

Margaret nodded.

"Rest up, kid.  You've got a lot of work ahead of you," Mary said.

Margaret scoffed and laughed, "Kid..."

"Want some coffee?" Mary asked.

"Sure," answered Margaret.

Mary stood up and her little sister followed her out of the room to begin the trek through the ancient, cavernous mansion to the kitchen.  The talked and laughed the whole way there, though didn't speak any more about Margaret joining the government.