Chapter 3 - Fourth Estate

Arwi Lervia

Arwi's morning routine went by on autopilot - getting out of bed two hours before her husband, taking a lukewarm shower, donning her outfit, taking a celery sandwich from the fridge, and eating it while reading her newspaper. The front page was all about the inauguration of Milvus Aves, but she couldn't focus on it. She already knew what was written about it in any case: praise for Aves' unorthodox style and his commitment to the common people - it was what she directed her editor-in-chief of the political branch to propagandize.

A high-pitched squeal came from behind. Arwi looked around and saw her pet aqtoui, Corona, staring at her with three round emerald eyes. Arwi then looked at Corona's feeding tray, which was still half-filled. That meant Corona simply demanded some affection. Arwi obliged by picking the little aqtoui up and setting her on her lap. She absent-mindedly stroked the creature while looking at the newspaper, but the words still didn't register.

A bell rang, causing Corona to jump from Arwi's lap. Arwi waited a few seconds before she very deliberately stood up from her kitchen seat. She had no idea how this day would go - part of her wanted to delay, or even cancel the whole affair altogether. The people she had involved herself with were ready to take it to the next level, and Arwi wondered what would happen if she backed out now - their influence was unquestionable, and danger clearly emanated off them. She placed an earlier prepared note on the kitchen table for her husband, reminding him that she would be home somewhere next day.

She went to the atrium and opened the front door. Her driver, the always immaculate lynx Mr. Silver, stood waiting patiently at a respectable distance.

"Ma'am," he said courteously, and gave a little nod.

Arwi closed the door behind her and started walking with Silver to her luxurious vehicle, parked outside the gate of the fenced off mansion.

"How do I look?" Arwi asked.

"Depends on my candid or tactful response." Silver fancied himself a bit of a wit, a trait he started to develop when he figured out that all the conversations he'd overheard as Arwi's chauffeur could be used as job security. Nevertheless, she welcomed his honesty... from time to time.

"Give it to me straight"

Silver accelerated his step, turned around and halted in front of her, causing her to stop as well. Oh gods, here we go, she thought.

Silver evaluated her from top to toe. "It looks like you haven't slept in days; your fur is tangled, the bags under your eyes are so big you can carry things around in it, and you've forgotten the jewellery you usually put in your horns. Nice outfit though."

Arwi glared at Silver, arms akimbo, and tapping her foot. "What time is it?"

Silver looked at his watch. "Six minutes past the hour."

Arwi tapped her foot three more times, and said: "Fuck it, I'll fix it in the car."

They were soon off, speeding towards the headquarters of her company, International Communications. Except, that would not be her destination, something she had yet to mentioned to her driver.

"Mr. Silver, we're not headed to the office today," Arwi said from behind a hand-held mirror. Ugh, I'll be needing a lot of cream to cover this up, she thought ruefully.

"Oh? Where does ma'am wish to go?"

"Fakurk Point - the park there," Arwi said as she rummaged through the make-up bag she kept in the vehicle.

They drove in silence while Arwi carefully applied her make-up, when suddenly the vehicle's brakes were slammed, jolting Arwi forwards.

"What the hell!"

"That car came out of nowhere!" Silver exclaimed.

Arwi looked through the windshield. They weren't close to the city yet - the road they were on was in a wooded area. They had stopped at a T-junction, their path blocked by a sizable six-wheeler with blackened windows. It looked like it had tried to make the turn in their direction at high speed, so half the vehicle was off the road - it had narrowly missed a tree.

She picked up the mirror she had dropped to check if she was unharmed and saw a jerky streak of concealer down one side of her muzzle.

"Look what that absolute monkey slut did to my face!"

"I saw my life flash before my eyes!" Silver panted.

Arwi suddenly remembered the significance of the current date, and when she saw that the vehicle opposite of them had not moved yet - no occupant had emerged as well - she hurriedly told Silver to quickly drive around it and resume on their way.

When they had passed the blunderer, she told Silver that she couldn't shake the feeling that it happened by design.

"Yes, the design of that idiot's brain," Silver replied.

"I'm serious, that could have been meant to end me."

"And me."

"Don't flatter yourself, you're collateral damage at best."

"Ma'am, accidents do happen. That's how that driver" - he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder - "came into existence after all."

"Do you know what today is? Today, fifteen years ago, my father Ovis was murdered - shot dead in his favourite restaurant. And now that I'm finally filling his shoes, this happens. Don't be naive."

Silver did not immediately respond. "I understand, ma'am," he said after a while.

Arwi gazed ponderously out of the window. There is no such thing as paranoia in this world, she thought, and wondered if her new friends could be trusted. She turned back to the task of making herself at least somewhat presentable.

They drove for another forty-five minutes before the skyline of the City of Ely loomed up in the horizon, sunlight gleaming off the tall glass buildings. Ely was one of the great cities of the world, its foil being Old Court; they both had numerous skyscrapers, yet Ely's colours were mostly white as opposed to Old Court's colourful structures. It always struck Arwi as odd that Ely, with its more diverse population of different species and cultures had the more monotone pallet of the two cities.

Reaching the park at Fakurk Point took them another 20 minutes, even though its location was not far from where they'd entered the city; traffic was always a problem. Thankfully, the little neighbourhood that was Fakurk Point enjoyed peace, and its singular park was almost empty when they arrived. Arwi told Silver to stop the vehicle opposite of the park and wait inside while she looked for the person she had arranged the meeting with.

"Keep an eye out, when I give you a signal you can go," she said.

Silver protested: "Ma'am, in light of what happened, it would be wise if I come with."

"If I sense trouble, I'll come running back. If I want a bodyguard, I'll hire one - one with no mouth."

She stepped out of the vehicle and walked to the park. It wasn't very big, and it had no noteworthy features. A lone figure sat cross-legged in the grass, enjoying the sun. It was a sunglass wearing panda, dressed in cargo shorts and a florid blouse with rolled up sleeves.

She hesitantly walked towards him. The panda languidly turned his head towards her and proceeded to rise in a similar fashion. She saw that he was wearing slippers, and thought: Looks like the neighbourhood drug dealer is the welcome committee. She turned to Silver and gave him an 'okay' sign.

When she turned back, a big extended paw hovered in front of her, and she took it with both hands.

"Missus Lervia, how good to see you again."

"Likewise, Mazur." She had to look up, as he was a few heads bigger than she.

Mazur nodded at her departing vehicle. "What does he know?"

"Only that I wanted to go here. He gives a bit of lip so now and then, but he's dependable and knows when not to ask questions."

"Good. Walk with me. Oh, and you have something there," he said, pointing to the right side of her nose.

Fuck sake. She swiped the back of her hand over her muzzle. And you look like a hobo.

They sauntered across the length of the park, in the direction of another vehicle that looked a lot like the one that almost rammed her earlier. She decided to not tell Mazur about that incident.

"Must be nice to be able to walk around in public without getting mobbed." She knew that the writer was a bit of a recluse; his name was infinitely more famous than his face. Evenly, not many people could picture the face behind world's leading mass-media company - International Communications, formerly Lervia Communications.

"More recognition is the last thing I need," Mazur said. "Besides, there are a lot of people out there who don't want my autograph. They'd much rather give something to me - spit, a punch, a knife in the ribs..."

"Nasty."

"But it doesn't faze me. The people who are able to peel away the layers of my work rarely like what they find. It's the truth, you see, and for many it hits home a bit too hard."

They stopped in front of the vehicle, with its darkened windows.

"Ready?" Mazur asked her.

Arwi looked at a dark window, and her reflection looked back, approvingly.

"We've danced around long enough... I'm ready."

Mazur opened the backseat door for her and helped her inside. He closed the door and walked around the back to take a seat beside her. He reached under his seat and retrieved a black blindfold, which he gave to her.

"I trust you, but you're not in yet. We are taking every precaution," he said.

"Fine," Arwi sighed, and tied the blindfold around her head so that it covered her eyes.

The vehicle started to move, and during the ride Arwi focussed on sounds from outside, trying to get an idea of where they were. The ears of her kind were well developed, yet it was hard to pick up any familiar noises. At one point she thought she heard the sounds of an amusement park - Oceanworld? That means we're by Lake Ely... - but the trail went cold after that, not to be picked up again.

Mazur interrupted her guessing game. "Your father would have been proud of you. Taking back the company, choosing to join a worthy cause..."

They had a similar conversation the last time they spoke, but this time Mazur also declared that her father would have agreed with the course she was on. She doubted that very much; Ovis dismissed almost any idea that was not his first - the more extraordinary the idea, the stronger the dismissal. Mazur and co had some very extraordinary ideas, and the will and assets to see them come to fruition.

"Well, I can't say I was proud of his idiotic decision to create a board of directors. It certainly screwed me over after he died."

"He gave you the opportunity to prove yourself. You've defeated those scavengers and claimed your birth right."

Arwi didn't deny it was a learning experience, one that made her stronger and wiser. It also stressed her out - at one point she was on the verge of taking her own life. But when the dust settled after years of politicking, she was the undisputed leader of International Communications.

Arwi couldn't remember if Ovis had ever spoken to her about Mazur, but she knew Mazur's literary contributions had been valuable to Ovis' company, before he left to forge his own destiny.

The vehicle stopped after a while. "We're here," said Mazur. "You can take off the blindfold."

She did so - it took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the brightness - and saw that they were parked in a walled off courtyard. A female saurian in a suit opened the door for her with a "madam". Multiple vehicles and people in suits were waiting around.

"Follow me, please" Mazur said, and she caught up with him on the other side of the vehicle. They walked up to a small elevated platform, taking a few steps to climb up. They reached a metal door. Mazur placed his paw on a panel next to the door which opened after a second, revealing a small room - barely two by two meters.

"Impressive," Arwi said wryly. "I can see why security is tight."

"Be patient," Mazur said with a smile, as he stepped inside.

Arwi followed him in, and Mazur laid his other paw on another panel inside the room. A light flashed on, and the door closed. The room grindingly started to descend, the light flickering. Mazur hummed a little tune - it sounded like some generic elevator music - making Arwi roll her eyes.

They came to a sudden halt; the unexpectedness of that almost made Arwi lose her footing. She grabbed Mazur's arm to steady herself.

"Sorry about that," he said. "This elevator is rather clumsy."

"Thanks for the heads up."

The door opened again, this time revealing a large open space. It looked like a retrofitted parking garage; the walls, floor and ceiling were made out of concrete and square pillars dotted the room. The room was well lit and ventilated. In the middle stood great round table, made from granite. Five people were sat at the table in high leather seats, four of them looking at Arwi as she and Mazur exited the elevator.

Arwi knew who they were, making for a surreal experience to see them together; as far as she knew they had nothing to do with each other, yet these people had all joined forces in a vague conspiracy.

In the middle, sat with his back to Arwi, was a specie know as cardinal. She could see a crest of red and grey feather peeking out the top of the chair and a tail of similar plumage poking out through a gap in the chair's backrest. The cardinal swivelled his chair around, revealing himself to be Otho Pandar Rovere.

He was the world's eminent biologist for the past three decades and social expert for the past two. Largely due to Arwi's father, Otho had the reputation of a mad scientist. At his indirect behest, Arwi used her media empire to reduce Otho's notoriety and normalize his theories.

"Arwi Lervia." Otho had a gruff voice.

"Professor Rovere," replied Arwi.

"Please, call me Otho." Otho outstretched a talon. "Have a seat."

Arwi and Mazur both took a seat at the table.

"Allow me to go 'round the table, in case you need a refresher. I understand you have not met in person yet," Otho said.

Arwi said that she had not, and Otho continued: "To my right is Kit Riz Luzo." He swayed his taloned hand to his left, at a striped gecko in a formal military uniform. "General of The Concordant League."

Kit nodded at Arwi, who said: "Pleasure."

"Next to him sits Saltram Spiletta," - he gestured to a dark horse - "advisor to the Queen of Ludora."

Saltram gave a little wave. "Pleasure," Arwi said again.

"To my left you'll find Emi Spoff." Otho said, and Arwi turned her head towards a female puma. "Head of the private military company Paladin, and de facto ruler of West-Eshon."

Emi was sitting back in her chair, arms crossed, her scarred face tilted down and her bright eyes looking up at Arwi beneath her eyebrows. Arwi's journalists had uncovered some hideous facts about Paladin and their influence over the failed state of West-Eshon. All yet unpublished; Emi didn't look like the type you could cross and live. Arwi simply smiled at her. No pleasure, she thought.

"And finally, we have Desnon Holdor." Otho pointed to a bison next to Emi. "Elector of the Reformed Cambrian Church."

Desnon was twice Arwi's size and wore some sort of combination of a green suit and yellow robe. "How good of you to join us, madam Lervia," he said.

Otho spoke before she could respond: "Arwi has not come aboard yet," - Arwi thought: Are we on a first name basis already? - "but she's shown herself to be a valuable ally."

Otho took his seat again in a weighty manner. He put his fingers together and looked Arwi straight in the eye, where his gaze lingered for a moment. Then he said: "This is where you choose - are you with us, or against us?"

That sounded too much like an ultimatum to Arwi. What a way to recruit someone who has done tons for you already, she thought. Arwi had flashbacks to all the boardroom meetings she endured with backstabber, liars, and plain on-the-nose antagonists. She returned Otho's stare unblinkingly and said: "Before I pledge myself, tell me what you know of my father's death."

Otho quickly glanced at Mazur and reverted his eyes back to her. "What happened to your father was a tragedy, but seeking revenge for his death is not the only reason you're here, I hope?"

"No, the first and foremost reason is that I subscribe to your vision. But I was also told by Mazur that you have information about the people behind Ovis' murder. I need to know if that is true, or just a ploy to rope me in."

"Pledge, and I will tell you what I know." Otho said impatiently.

Arwi took a deep breath, said a little prayer in her head and solemnly pronounced: "I will join you."

"Does anyone here object?"

No-one said a word.

What is this, a wedding? Do we have to kiss now? Arwi thought.

The corners of Otho's beak curled slightly up. "Welcome, Arwi, to the First Utopians."

The rest of the room clapped, bar Emi, who kept her arms crossed but said: "hear hear." Arwi did not fail to notice the sharp edge.

"Now... about your father..." Otho began. "Now that you're one of us, we can divulge our current location. Yes, this is important to understand what caused his demise." He pointed up. "Above us is the assembly of The Concordant League."

That surprised Arwi. Their secret meeting was held right underneath the headquarters of the intergovernmental organisation whose primary goal was to counter all sorts of hazards to the societies of earth. If Arwi correctly understood the ultimate goal of The First Utopians, and the League kept a list of threats to stamp out, they would be right at the top of that list - unless, of course, they remained undiscovered.

"That corrupt and fruitless organisation holds tremendous sway over the nations of earth - it will bring us all to ruin, albeit slowly." Otho ranted as if he was holding a sermon, the crest of feathers atop his head almost vertical. Kit murmured in agreement.

"However, not all can be blamed on the committees that mess" - he clawed the air above him - "is made out of."

His voice lowered, just as his feathery crest. "You see, it has a rotten core; an invisible arm. No organisation chart will tell you about it. It has no name, but we know it as the shadow council."

Arwi raised an eyebrow, wondering where all this was going.

"Its members have three things in common: wealth, influence in their respective communities and referrals from other members. Perhaps you note the resemblance to our little group?"

Arwi slowly nodded.

"They believe themselves the League's stewards. But their intentions are hollow and vain... still, they pull the strings... motivated only by building an advantageous climate for their own businesses, influence, wealth and ambitions," he said, extending a finger for each of these points.

"And shaft everyone else." Saltram added.

Otho continued his explanation: "So, as I was saying, the resemblance between us and the shadow council is no coincidence. And that is thanks to one of our numbers, not present here today - Morne Buselaphus, recently installed a vice-president of the F.C.T.

Holy shit... thought Arwi as she tried hard to not appear too astonished.

"He was our beachhead into the council, for he has been a part of it even before he saw the light. Subsequently, we've modelled the First Utopians after the council. If there is one thing I must commend about them, it is their ability to stay veiled. But now we've lifted the tip of the veil - and so three of our members sit in the council: Morne, Mazur and Desnon."

Arwi had expected a much shorter answer to the question of her father's death, so said: "This is all very fascinating, truly, but what does this have to do with my father?"

"I was just arriving at that point. Your father was a member of the shadow council."

Arwi narrowed her eyes. "Was my father also hollow and vain?" She knew the answer to that.

"I'm sorry to say, according to Morne your father was no exception. But before you come to the wrong conclusion, his assassination was concocted by members of the council who your father had wronged - Morne claims your father quarrelled with other members often and slandered them in his own press."

"Do you have proof of this?"

"No, only Morne's word. But we can find the proof - some of those who were at odds with your father still have their seat - we can try and make them confess, somehow."

Otho seemed sincere, and when Arwi looked at the faces of the gathered, she could not detect deceit. Arwi was good at reading faces. She decided that she would not press the issue at this point, and that until she had proof of the shadow council's foul play, she would keep her guard up around her new companions.

She told Otho she was satisfied for now, which pleased him greatly. He assured her that the quest to find her father's killer would stop only when the culprits were found.

"So, what now?" Arwi asked.

Otho rose and started pacing around the table. "We all have our domain" - he passed Desnon - "sacral" - Satram - "nobility" - Mazur - "the people" - he stopped behind Arwi - "the media".

"What about those two" Arwi said, pointing at Emi and Kit in turn. Emi showed a fang.

"Why, when words fail, we have other ways to... communicate our message. The result of Emi's work in West-Eshon, along with what has been happening in Emsver, confirms my theories; hard times create strong people. And the strong will lead us to better times."