Project HEARD presents A Gold Digger fanfic story "Mirror, Mirror" - Part 3 {Author's note: This story, which takes place around Issue 9 of the color series of GD, is a companion to a TP (TinyPlot, or game scenario) that unfolded on the Gold Digger 2000 MUSH. The TP log is available at http://thunder.prohosting.com/~gd2k/mirrormirror-1.txt and is probably best read BEFORE this story, as it unfolded that way. Part 1 is the initial TP; part 2 is the first fanfic story and is available at http://thunder.prohosting.com/~gd2k/mirrormirror-2.txt; part 3 is this fanfic story; and part 4 will be another TP.} Tanya woke up and reminded herself she was on another world. she said to herself. She got dressed and headed directly to her meeting with Archon. The native Aebran Kryn's frown grew with every claim she read. Tanya hoped that Archon wouldn't subject the documents to a legitimacy test; Tanya had spent the week's travel time between Aebra and Earth fabricating the claims--first writing up the pages of narrative and next creating the photographs that went along with them. In all, there were claims of Stripe neglecting his duties as Earth ambassador; misrepresenting Aebra; acting without the tact his position demanded; being unfaithful to his wife; and attempts to initiate an affair with Tanya herself. All of the claims were untrue, of course, but only Tanya knew. And, if Archon trusted Tanya like she seemed to, and chose not to have the pages of paper and other evidential items analyzed, it would stay that way. Tanya sighed with relief inwardly as Archon put the pages down. "These are very, VERY serious claims," Archon reiterated. "I am disappointed, to say the least." "You see why I wanted to bring it to you in person," Tanya led on. Archon nodded. "Quite," she said. "By themselves, your claims would seem rather far-fetched. But this.." She held up the handful of photos. Archon sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back against the chair. "What are your plans, Archon?" Tanya asked. Archon opened her eyes again and sat forward. "I need time to digest this," she said with renewed energy. "I will make a decision by this time tomorrow. You shall be notified." "Thank you," Tanya said, bowing and turning to go. At the doorway, she turned. "Not to attempt to influence your decision, but.." "Yes?" Archon said as Tanya trailed off. Tanya set the expression she'd practiced all week. "Perhaps this is what is to be expected when Kryn and Earthers are allowed to interact so intimately." Tanya waited for her words to sink in and be responded to. "Perhaps," Archon finally nodded quietly. "Perhaps." "I will see you tomorrow, Archon," Tanya'Ga said, stepping out and closing the door. From the meeting, Tanya did not head directly home. Instead, she travelled to El Dorado to seek out someone she figured, judging by how she was being received by other Kryn, would be considered a friend. "Tanya!" Primus said with surprise as she entered the room. "I didn't know you'd come home." "Hello," she said, trying to smile cordially. "It wasn't announced; I had a task to accomplish on-world, and it made no sense to spend time contacting everyone about it." "I see," Primus nodded. "Is it done?" "It will be tomorrow," Tanya said. "So then.. what brings you to El Dorado's center of authority?" "I have some hypothetical questions, if you have time," she said. "Oh? About?" Primus queried. "Come in, come in." The two sat down, and Primus eyed his guest as she seemed to search for words. In actual fact, she was doing exactly as she had rehearsed a hundred times over. "What kinds of things would cause an offworld representative to be recalled?" Primus looked at her. "No, not me," she said. "I said hypothetically." That, too, had been expected. "I.. don't know," he said. "It would have to be a gross transgression." "Dereliction of duties? Abandoning their mate for another?" "...Yes, that could be cause for concern," Primus said uneasily. "What if they spent their time on post doing absolutely nothing related to their duties, and concentrated only on partying, 'having a good time'.." She trailed off. "That would seem to be an irresponsible person and a poor choice for a representative," Primus observed. "What would become of them?" "Well, as you said, recall to Aebra.. discipline.. reassignment onworld would be my first guess. Depending on the seriousness of the infraction or infractions. Prison's not an impossibility." "I see." Another practiced pause. "What if someone at home sponsored them? Would they stay out of prison then?" "How do you mean?" Tanya held out her hands as if to help her illustrate her point. "If I were to take full responsibility for him, and his actions, could he stay with me, free from prosecution?" "'Him'?" Primus raised an eyebrow. "Hypothetical," Tanya said, cursing herself silently for slipping up. "Ah." Primus rubbed his chin. "I've never heard of it happening, but I suppose it's within the realm of possiblilty.. especially considering such a respected person as yourself would be the one petitioning." Tanya smiled. "That's the best news I've heard all day," she said. The next day came, and Archon had Tanya come into the office, then contacted Earth. "Stryyp'Gia, you are to return to Aebra at once," Archon said without preamble. "To answer to the charges against you." "Ch--charges?!" he stammered, caught completely off guard. Britanny appeared in the field of view of the camera, looking concerned--Stripe was never known to stumble over his words, and when she'd heard his response to the late afternoon phone call, she came to see what the matter was. "Your behavior has been tracked and transcribed," Archon said flatly. Tanya was out of range of the camera but still able to see both sides of the exchange. "All of your acts have been reported to me, both professional and .. shall we say 'recreational'." "What? Archon, whatever anyone has said to you, it's all lies!" Stripe protested. "You say so," Archon conceded, "but my data says otherwise. You will return to Aebra at once, on your own, to answer the charges and be tried." Stripe tried to protest again, but Archon cut him off. "If you are convinced of your innocence, Prince 'Gia, returning here will allow you to clear your name. Hm?" "But what of my duties here?" Stripe asked, trying to find a loophole. "Yes. Well.. your duties have apparently been left incomplete for quite some time. This will mean no difference. After the hearings, you MAY be returned to Earth to resume your 'duties', should we be convinced that you are capable of doing them." "Very w--" Stripe began defeatedly, but was cut off by the woman beside him. He and Britanny argued for a brief moment in front of the camera, and Archon watched with interest. Their quarrel was not one that belonged to a couple with strained marital relations, but the proof before her was irrefutable. Stripe finally turned back to the camera. "I will be on the transport in the morning." "You will be awaited," Archon said in an even tone, ending the connection. Tanya had to leave the room to avoid bursting with glee before Archon's firm but distressed gaze. One day later, Stripe was astonished when armed guards stormed onto the shuttle vehicle that would take him to the orbiting transport. With only a few minutes left in the countdown, they'd aborted it and come onto the ship, apparently searching for something. They found it in the cargo bay, and it struggled and fought all the way out to the main passenger deck of the ship. Britanny was a handful for the eight security officers, even in her human form as she was. Archon was brought up on a communication screen in the passenger bay and brought up to speed. She frowned as the security force explained. "An extra hundred or so pounds wouldn't have been noticed," a guard told her. "But the thousand pounds of canned Earth fish the werecat managed to stash away provided a major discrepancy in takeoff payload weight." "You should have stayed out of this, Mrs. Diggers," Archon said. "But you're WRONG!" Brit said. "Everything you're accusing Stripe of isn't true! He'd never do any of that!" "There is no place for witnesses in this sort of situation," Archon responded. "This is between Stryyp'Gia and the council." "Like hell it is!" Britanny protested. "You're accusing him of being unfaithful to me! I won't have it!" "You have no choice," came the answer from Aebra. "Britanny, please," Stripe said. "Let it take its cour--" "I will not!" she snapped at him. "I will not let this bitch make up all these lies about you!" Archon blinked, stunned for a moment. When she found her voice, she said, "Mrs. Diggers, I urge you to rescind that comment." Brit wrenched one of her arms free and aimed it at the camera, bent upwards at the elbow, with a single finger upraised. "Rescind THIS!" Archon paused, then said, "It appears you will get your wish, Mrs. Diggers. You are now.. 'invited' to join your husband on Aebra." Brit blinked as she was forcibly moved to a seat and strapped in. "What is this?!" "You are now under arrest. Please do not resist," Archon said. "If you do, I cannot be held responsible for your safety." "On what charge?!" Brit exclaimed as Stripe shouted out a plea for them to let her go and remain on Earth. "Furthermore," Archon said just before closing the link, "Any further attempts to inhibit justice in this matter by ANYONE shall be considered an act of war." TO BE CONTINUED