There was a garden behind the Thalassian Government house which was filled with large trees, and flowers of a variety of colors, blue-green grass, and vines that bore large red grapes. TO had never seen such a cluster of greenery before, and didn’t even think that such places existed on fully industrialized planets. Most places would have fake foliage, but according to their scans, everything was real and alive. 

“We said the training grounds.” TO said to the ServAi as they walked past a large purple flower surrounded by white butterflies. “Training grounds, not simply the ‘grounds'’”

“Of course, honored Synths.” the ServAi said, “The training Grounds are in the center of the Gardens.”

“Seems like a waste of space.” DH grumbled into the communicator as they walked under a section of the garden that was entirely shaded by the thick canopy. “Why not use simulations for training like we did?”

“I’m not sure they have access to the same training resources as we did.” TO said.

“Ah, that might be true.” DH said, “But even so…”

Even so, it didn't need to be in a garden. There seemed to be something wrong with having a training area in the middle of such a peaceful garden. Still, for the moment TO was grateful that the civilians choose this location; There was so much that they saw which simulations couldn’t mimic. The simulations didn’t capture the way the light filtered through the leaves, or the way the light illuminated the edges of leaves, turning them brilliant yellow at the edges and fading to a blue-green that seemed darker than it really was in the center.

TO wanted to take off their armor. They wanted to smell the air here; Fresh, crisp air enhanced by real foliage. They wanted to feel the grass under bare feet, to smell the flowers, to pull a grape off the vine and eat it just like that!

It occurred to them suddenly that because of all the surveillance, the cameras everywhere, and the cameras on their badge, they’d not get to come in here without their armor. Even now, there were cameras hidden in the trees in such numbers that there was nowhere to hide. It made them feel like they were back in training, walking the hallways of the Training center and knowing that they were being watched, knowing that they had to be careful of what they said and did.

They finally came across a clearing in the trees, where about twenty of the soldiers were standing at attention in a perfect line. They faced one end of the field where minister Sally sat on a platform covered in cushions, flanked by seated civilians in fancy clothes. The civilians around Sally spoke amongst themselves, drinking bubbly drinks from tall glasses, and laughing. Well, most of them were. Noss, sitting right next to minister Sally, sat in his chair, looking at his communicator as the others spoke around him. 

“Ah, you’ve made it.” Sally said as they approached, her words to them drawing a curtain of silence over those around her. They all gave a little half bow from their chairs, watching the synths carefully. “We were hoping you would!”

“And you were waiting for us, I see.” TO said, looking over the nobles. It was only now that they noticed the necklaces that they were all wearing, all identical to the one TO and DH now wore over their armor.

“Well, a little walk among the trees is a lovely way to relax and prepare for a big loud party, and I was so excited to show you our combat expertise.” She raised a claw and clicked it, and immediately there was a ServAi at her side.

“Chairs for our Honored Synths.” She said.

“That will not be necessary.” TO said, “We won't’ be here long. We will need to return to our ship and do some preliminary reports before we return.” This wasn’t necessarily true. While they didn't want to use the computers in the room minister Sally had assigned them, they could use just their chips to send any necessary reports. The real reason they wanted to go back to their ship was so that they could get their formal clothes and re-enter the city as civilians. It would be a problem if TO and DH suddenly showed up with no documentation in Thalassa, when they were so careful with who they allowed to enter. They’d have to use the invitations that Lendulin gave them, and see what kind of passage that allowed them. At least it would be a good way to test the entry security. 

“Oh, that is a shame.” She said, “I had an entire performance ready for you-”

“Alas, our honored synths have more pressing business to do.” Noss said, seeming absolutely delighted that TO and DH couldn’t stay.

“We do have some concerns to address, though,” DH said as they stepped forward, “The surveillance attached to our badges-”

“Oh, tell me it’s working properly.” She said, “The rooms setup should bring you anything you need, and should report to your ServAis’ anything they need to fetch for you, but should you be out of your rooms, and need something-”

“We’d like it turned off; we have no need for such surveillance.” 

“Apologies, honored Synths.” Noss said, suddenly sweating a lot, “If I had known about the surveillance in the badges-”

“All the badges have cameras and recording devices.” Minister Sally said, “To keep us safe. Apologies for not commenting earlier about it. I forget about it altogether most of the time; most of us do. I assure you, the surveillance is there to make your visit comfortable, not to monitor you. It’s the same with all of our citizens.”

“I don’t know how anyone can be comfortable with cameras on them all the time.” Noss muttered as he looked around.

“It’s the simple cost of security.” Sally said, “Honestly, I don’t even notice it.” She turned to TO and DH once more. “I will have it turned off.”

“Acceptable.” DH said. They turned to leave, and TO was about to follow, but Minister Sally spoke up, “Oh please, stay for a brief demonstration just to ease your mind on our city’s security measures?”

DH was the one who stopped in mid-stride. Their voice came on over the communicator. “I am curious to see what they think those spears can do.” They said through the communicator.”

“Me too.” TO admitted. They turned around and now spoke to minister Sally. “A quick demonstration.” They said, “So we can see just how safe your city is.”

She held up her claw, but didn’t snap it this time; instead, she turned it over and TO could see a bracelet with a small panel on the underside. She held it up to her head and spoke gently into it.

“General, you may begin the execution.”

Wait... execution?

“We didn’t come here for an execution.” DH said before TO could react.

“Of course not.” She said, “That was going to be at the end of the demonstration, but since you’ve no time for all of that…”

Some guards paraded a civilian out from a hidden spot behind the trees on the other side of the field. It was a snake-like person, much like Pearla was, but his skin and tail were blue, not purple, and he seemed just too skinny to exist. Even from where they were, TO could count the ribs on his side, see the flesh on his arm from where he had lost weight or muscles, or both.

“I’m surprised you and your people have an interest in bloodsport.” DH said, then through their communicator to TO, they said, “Don’t look. Just close your eyes.”

“Bloodsport? Oh, my no.” She wrinkled her nose, “How ghastly. No, I’d rather not have blood everywhere in my field. No, we’re far more civilized than all that.”

Once they were in the center of the field, one guard stuck a long metal stake into the ground, pulling it to make sure that it was secure and wouldn’t fall over. They put handcuffs on the civilian, and hooked them onto a latch on the stake's side.

“Proceed.” She said into her bracelet.

A single guard stepped forward. He held his spear out with both hands, then started twisting a piece of the spear's handle.

“He’s actually preparing it.” She said, “There are several functions to them; and varying levels of lethality. It’s a bit like a multi-gun, really.” She smiled, “Of course I’m not a particular fan of blood, so-”

The guard swung the spear with a precise gesture; the tip slicing through the air before him. There was a hum in the air, and TO was certain that they could see the air vibrate from the swing, the distortion hitting the civilian instantly.

He gave a half-cry, like he wanted to scream but didn’t have time to do so properly. He swayed on his feet for a moment, then slumped forward, held up only by the chains that held him to the stake.

“And just like that.” She said, “Executed. It’s quite humane, really. They feel nothing. The wave you saw essentially liquifies their brains within seconds. I suppose some would say they could have the same effect with a multi-gun on its highest setting, putting a laser through someone’s skull, but this is a much more elegant solution, don’t you agree?”

TO almost wished there had been blood. They were glad there wasn’t; It didn’t fill TO with the same dread as blood did, and it didn’t make them feel sick, but it just didn’t seem real. If someone had to die, then it should seem like they died. It was so hard even for them to understand what they were feeling; they didn’t know how they’d ever verbalize it to DH. It seemed too easy; too simple. A civilian just died right there in the middle of the field and there was no blood, no wailing, nothing. Even the civilians sitting behind Sally seemed rather bored with the entire display; leaning forward and gossiping, or showing one another things on their communicators.

“Are you alright?” DH asked.

“No.” TO said. They weren’t, but they didn’t know why. “If that’s all.” They said to Sally, “We’ll be going.”

“Of course.” Sally said, “I do apologize that it’s not more… exciting. That’s the reason we have executions along with a bigger display; some mock fighting combined with some of the more flamboyant abilities of our spears. The whole execution thing isn’t nearly as showy as all that.” She turned to civilians sitting around her. “Though, for my guests, I might have some festivities performed now.” She looked back to the synths, “Are you sure you can’t stay for a little?” 

“We cannot.” TO said, “We have business to attend to.”

“Honored Synths.” Noss said, stepping away from the crowd, looking rather pale himself, “Shall I accompany you to your ship?”

“Unnecessary.” TO said. They knew they’d be watched regardless of who was with them, but they didn't want Noss around them at the same time. Still, Noss looked so pale, his eyes looked so big as he clenched his handkerchief so tightly in one hand that TO thought he might hurt himself. There was something wrong.

Maybe he didn’t like the execution any more than TO did. 

“If you could, however, retrieve the guest list for us and send, that would be most useful.” It was all TO could think of for him to do at the moment. They didn’t require the guest list, but it would be good to see who was coming, and it would give Noss an excuse to get away from Sally, the other civilians, and the dead legless in the field.

“Of course, honored synths.” He said. He turned to Sally, nodded, and then took off with his own ServAi following him. 

“What a strange little man.” Sally said as she turned her gaze back to the field where the guards were moving the body away. “I could have gotten that information for you, honored synths.”

“It’s done now.” TO said, “But you could tell me what that man was being executed for.”

Sally frowned, her mandibles clicking, “You know,” She said, “I cannot recall. I simply called the guard of my security to bring me someone set for execution. I can have that information sent to you-”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” TO said. They could find that information themself.

They just wanted to see if Minister Sally knew. 

There was a garden behind the Thalassian Government house which was filled with large trees, and flowers of a variety of colors, blue-green grass, and vines that bore large red grapes. TO had never seen such a cluster of greenery before, and didn’t even think that such places existed on fully industrialized planets. Most places would have fake foliage, but according to their scans, everything was real and alive. 

“We said the training grounds.” TO said to the ServAi as they walked past a large purple flower surrounded by white butterflies. “Training grounds, not simply the ‘grounds'’”

“Of course, honored Synths.” the ServAi said, “The training Grounds are in the center of the Gardens.”

“Seems like a waste of space.” DH grumbled into the communicator as they walked under a section of the garden that was entirely shaded by the thick canopy. “Why not use simulations for training like we did?”

“I’m not sure they have access to the same training resources as we did.” TO said.

“Ah, that might be true.” DH said, “But even so…”

Even so, it didn't need to be in a garden. There seemed to be something wrong with having a training area in the middle of such a peaceful garden. Still, for the moment TO was grateful that the civilians choose this location; There was so much that they saw which simulations couldn’t mimic. The simulations didn’t capture the way the light filtered through the leaves, or the way the light illuminated the edges of leaves, turning them brilliant yellow at the edges and fading to a blue-green that seemed darker than it really was in the center.

TO wanted to take off their armor. They wanted to smell the air here; Fresh, crisp air enhanced by real foliage. They wanted to feel the grass under bare feet, to smell the flowers, to pull a grape off the vine and eat it just like that!

It occurred to them suddenly that because of all the surveillance, the cameras everywhere, and the cameras on their badge, they’d not get to come in here without their armor. Even now, there were cameras hidden in the trees in such numbers that there was nowhere to hide. It made them feel like they were back in training, walking the hallways of the Training center and knowing that they were being watched, knowing that they had to be careful of what they said and did.

They finally came across a clearing in the trees, where about twenty of the soldiers were standing at attention in a perfect line. They faced one end of the field where minister Sally sat on a platform covered in cushions, flanked by seated civilians in fancy clothes. The civilians around Sally spoke amongst themselves, drinking bubbly drinks from tall glasses, and laughing. Well, most of them were. Noss, sitting right next to minister Sally, sat in his chair, looking at his communicator as the others spoke around him. 

“Ah, you’ve made it.” Sally said as they approached, her words to them drawing a curtain of silence over those around her. They all gave a little half bow from their chairs, watching the synths carefully. “We were hoping you would!”

“And you were waiting for us, I see.” TO said, looking over the nobles. It was only now that they noticed the necklaces that they were all wearing, all identical to the one TO and DH now wore over their armor.

“Well, a little walk among the trees is a lovely way to relax and prepare for a big loud party, and I was so excited to show you our combat expertise.” She raised a claw and clicked it, and immediately there was a ServAi at her side.

“Chairs for our Honored Synths.” She said.

“That will not be necessary.” TO said, “We won't’ be here long. We will need to return to our ship and do some preliminary reports before we return.” This wasn’t necessarily true. While they didn't want to use the computers in the room minister Sally had assigned them, they could use just their chips to send any necessary reports. The real reason they wanted to go back to their ship was so that they could get their formal clothes and re-enter the city as civilians. It would be a problem if TO and DH suddenly showed up with no documentation in Thalassa, when they were so careful with who they allowed to enter. They’d have to use the invitations that Lendulin gave them, and see what kind of passage that allowed them. At least it would be a good way to test the entry security. 

“Oh, that is a shame.” She said, “I had an entire performance ready for you-”

“Alas, our honored synths have more pressing business to do.” Noss said, seeming absolutely delighted that TO and DH couldn’t stay.

“We do have some concerns to address, though,” DH said as they stepped forward, “The surveillance attached to our badges-”

“Oh, tell me it’s working properly.” She said, “The rooms setup should bring you anything you need, and should report to your ServAis’ anything they need to fetch for you, but should you be out of your rooms, and need something-”

“We’d like it turned off; we have no need for such surveillance.” 

“Apologies, honored Synths.” Noss said, suddenly sweating a lot, “If I had known about the surveillance in the badges-”

“All the badges have cameras and recording devices.” Minister Sally said, “To keep us safe. Apologies for not commenting earlier about it. I forget about it altogether most of the time; most of us do. I assure you, the surveillance is there to make your visit comfortable, not to monitor you. It’s the same with all of our citizens.”

“I don’t know how anyone can be comfortable with cameras on them all the time.” Noss muttered as he looked around.

“It’s the simple cost of security.” Sally said, “Honestly, I don’t even notice it.” She turned to TO and DH once more. “I will have it turned off.”

“Acceptable.” DH said. They turned to leave, and TO was about to follow, but Minister Sally spoke up, “Oh please, stay for a brief demonstration just to ease your mind on our city’s security measures?”

DH was the one who stopped in mid-stride. Their voice came on over the communicator. “I am curious to see what they think those spears can do.” They said through the communicator.”

“Me too.” TO admitted. They turned around and now spoke to minister Sally. “A quick demonstration.” They said, “So we can see just how safe your city is.”

She held up her claw, but didn’t snap it this time; instead, she turned it over and TO could see a bracelet with a small panel on the underside. She held it up to her head and spoke gently into it.

“General, you may begin the execution.”

Wait... execution?

“We didn’t come here for an execution.” DH said before TO could react.

“Of course not.” She said, “That was going to be at the end of the demonstration, but since you’ve no time for all of that…”

Some guards paraded a civilian out from a hidden spot behind the trees on the other side of the field. It was a snake-like person, much like Pearla was, but his skin and tail were blue, not purple, and he seemed just too skinny to exist. Even from where they were, TO could count the ribs on his side, see the flesh on his arm from where he had lost weight or muscles, or both.

“I’m surprised you and your people have an interest in bloodsport.” DH said, then through their communicator to TO, they said, “Don’t look. Just close your eyes.”

“Bloodsport? Oh, my no.” She wrinkled her nose, “How ghastly. No, I’d rather not have blood everywhere in my field. No, we’re far more civilized than all that.”

Once they were in the center of the field, one guard stuck a long metal stake into the ground, pulling it to make sure that it was secure and wouldn’t fall over. They put handcuffs on the civilian, and hooked them onto a latch on the stake's side.

“Proceed.” She said into her bracelet.

A single guard stepped forward. He held his spear out with both hands, then started twisting a piece of the spear's handle.

“He’s actually preparing it.” She said, “There are several functions to them; and varying levels of lethality. It’s a bit like a multi-gun, really.” She smiled, “Of course I’m not a particular fan of blood, so-”

The guard swung the spear with a precise gesture; the tip slicing through the air before him. There was a hum in the air, and TO was certain that they could see the air vibrate from the swing, the distortion hitting the civilian instantly.

He gave a half-cry, like he wanted to scream but didn’t have time to do so properly. He swayed on his feet for a moment, then slumped forward, held up only by the chains that held him to the stake.

“And just like that.” She said, “Executed. It’s quite humane, really. They feel nothing. The wave you saw essentially liquifies their brains within seconds. I suppose some would say they could have the same effect with a multi-gun on its highest setting, putting a laser through someone’s skull, but this is a much more elegant solution, don’t you agree?”

TO almost wished there had been blood. They were glad there wasn’t; It didn’t fill TO with the same dread as blood did, and it didn’t make them feel sick, but it just didn’t seem real. If someone had to die, then it should seem like they died. It was so hard even for them to understand what they were feeling; they didn’t know how they’d ever verbalize it to DH. It seemed too easy; too simple. A civilian just died right there in the middle of the field and there was no blood, no wailing, nothing. Even the civilians sitting behind Sally seemed rather bored with the entire display; leaning forward and gossiping, or showing one another things on their communicators.

“Are you alright?” DH asked.

“No.” TO said. They weren’t, but they didn’t know why. “If that’s all.” They said to Sally, “We’ll be going.”

“Of course.” Sally said, “I do apologize that it’s not more… exciting. That’s the reason we have executions along with a bigger display; some mock fighting combined with some of the more flamboyant abilities of our spears. The whole execution thing isn’t nearly as showy as all that.” She turned to civilians sitting around her. “Though, for my guests, I might have some festivities performed now.” She looked back to the synths, “Are you sure you can’t stay for a little?” 

“We cannot.” TO said, “We have business to attend to.”

“Honored Synths.” Noss said, stepping away from the crowd, looking rather pale himself, “Shall I accompany you to your ship?”

“Unnecessary.” TO said. They knew they’d be watched regardless of who was with them, but they didn't want Noss around them at the same time. Still, Noss looked so pale, his eyes looked so big as he clenched his handkerchief so tightly in one hand that TO thought he might hurt himself. There was something wrong.

Maybe he didn’t like the execution any more than TO did. 

“If you could, however, retrieve the guest list for us and send, that would be most useful.” It was all TO could think of for him to do at the moment. They didn’t require the guest list, but it would be good to see who was coming, and it would give Noss an excuse to get away from Sally, the other civilians, and the dead legless in the field.

“Of course, honored synths.” He said. He turned to Sally, nodded, and then took off with his own ServAi following him. 

“What a strange little man.” Sally said as she turned her gaze back to the field where the guards were moving the body away. “I could have gotten that information for you, honored synths.”

“It’s done now.” TO said, “But you could tell me what that man was being executed for.”

Sally frowned, her mandibles clicking, “You know,” She said, “I cannot recall. I simply called the guard of my security to bring me someone set for execution. I can have that information sent to you-”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” TO said. They could find that information themself.

They just wanted to see if Minister Sally knew.