The records found by Lzrehae N’seseh’s staff proved an incredible historical find.

In her 42^nd year of government service, Lzrehae’s charge as supervisor was to see to proper storage and cataloguing of government documents. Numerous warehouses full of them awaited processing 12 years ago, the huge backlog created during the Brellian years. All this time later, and they were only 60% done.

Lzrehae would recall for the rest of her life how excited M’srusae was with her find, how she ran across the warehouse calling Lzrehae’s name. The new employee – hired right out of Arrhazon College – well knew the significance of what lie in her hands. Llhaesa was a universal hero and legend on Arrhazon, and she well knew Brellian murdered llhaesa. Brellian possessed a twisted mind, one that grew worse during his tenure as Chief of Government – and amazingly, his own staff dutifully recorded all of his and their misdeeds.

Within hours of the discovery, this particular file – from several hours of one day – was in the hands of Chief of Government Gl’nsiel. The file gave a detailed account of the arrest of llhaesa ahrella t’yaeli, one that left off with no mention of a final action, but which did detail events to around 9 am, about an hour before they informed t’yaeli’s Jahrae that she ‘ceased to be.’ Not only did it detail llhaesa’s detention, it included 90 minutes of video that was at once ultimately repulsive and a demonstration of the astounding courageousness of llhaesa.

Gl’nsiel read the record a second time, simultaneously sickened by what llhaesa endured, yet feeling such great pride in llhaesa’s open defiance and refusal to go quietly to her fate. Gl’nsiel needed to share part of this story with all of Arrhazon, but how much of the information should she share? On the other hand, she would make damn sure Brellian heard every word of what they saw in the file.

With global governance, there was no one time of day best suited to informing the people. Gl’nsiel asked her Chief of Staff to join her in her office, where she handed over the record and waited for a reaction. The CoS accepted the electronic record and quickly scanned its contents. Tears welled in her eyes; she ended her read-through with a ‘way to go, llhaesa!’ and followed that by wiping away the streaks of water lining her face. “I’m sorry, Gl’nsiel…”

“No need to be sorry, my reaction was quite the same.” Gl’nsiel sincerely responded. “I intend to share this record with the people of Arrhazon – providing Jahrae Khentavra so authorises release of this information. I will call Jahrae in a short while; ask if I might pay a visit. If she authorises this, and I suspect she will, I will return here and immediately speak to all of Arrhazon.

One more thing… I would like you to contact the facility holding Brellian. Please inform the warden that Jahrae and I may pay a visit there in the next few days.

After the Chief of Staff left her office, Gl’nsiel dialled Jahrae’s mobile, watching as Jahrae’s image flickered and formed on her screen.

“Hello, Gl’nsiel! How is my favourite head of government?” Jahrae cared much for Gl’nsiel – the two had become friends during the revolution that overthrew Brellian.

“I have probably had better days than today and unfortunately must also share with you what I have witnessed. I would like to visit your flat, Jahrae. This is something we need to discuss when both of us are together.”

“Gl’nsiel, you are always welcome here and you know this, but logistically it makes no sense for you. With your security needs, it is far easier for me to scoot downtown than have your team assemble and escort you here. When would you wish me to come in?”

Gl’nsiel had not considered Jahrae making such an offer. She made sense, as always. “Very well, Jahrae… you always did have an eye for taking a common sense approach. Can you join me immediately?”

“I certainly can. It normally takes me a half hour or less to get there, and I will be out of here in 15 minutes. Does this work for you?” Jahrae asked, but knew it would be quite acceptable.

“That would be perfect.” As an afterthought, Gl’nsiel added “and Jahrae… I would like you to spend the night here. You can return home in the morning if you wish. We will see you in about 45 minutes.”

“Take care Gl’nsiel, and we will see you then.” Most who heard them converse would be aghast at how Jahrae informally addressed the Chief of Government, but the truth was Gl’nsiel hated being addressed by her title. She would growl at anyone on her immediate staff who addressed her in such a manner.

True to her word, Jahrae was there in 40 minutes. The two friends merged in a hug that was both genuine and extended; as soon as they moved out of the embrace, Gl’nsiel’s expression changed, telegraphing some combination of reluctance and concern. Gl’nsiel motioned Jahrae toward the more personal space on the far side of her office. “Come sit with me, Jahrae.” They moved to the twin and sizeable white, overstuffed sofas, each claiming one sofa as their own temporary refuge.

“Jahrae, I am certain you see the worry on my face, I’ve never been very good at hiding my concern for another’s well being.” She paused and took a deep breath before continuing.

“As you know, after we succeeded Brellian and brought normalcy back to government, we set out to catalogue all the unregistered documents from that horrid time. Twelve years later, and we are a bit over halfway through.

This morning, one of Lzrehae N’seseh’s staff – Lzrehae is in charge of the cataloguing effort – came running up to her, knowing she carried historically significant documentation.

Jahrae, what I am about to tell you will not be easy for you to hear and digest, but please understand as your friend I have no choice but to make you aware.

This record was of llhaesa’s last day. It is incomplete, covering a portion of the time after the government operatives took her from your flat, but ends… an hour and a half before the stated time of death given to you later in the day.

What is in that record is graphic; a confrontation also occurred.” Gl’nsiel paused, and Jahrae’s curiosity led her to throw out a question.

“Gl’nsiel, what kind of confrontation occurred? What did they do to llhaesa? Please tell me she was not beaten…” Jahrae felt her stomach turn.

Gl’nsiel briefly lowered her eyes, staring at the coffee table between them. She raised them back towards Jahrae, willing herself to look into her friend’s eyes. “Jahrae, I am afraid she was. And unfortunately, it gets even worse.”

At this, Jahrae gasped, her right hand fingers moving in cusped fashion to her mouth. She was a minute from tears.

“By the time llhaesa arrived at Brellian’s tower – the one we demolished six years ago – and where the record begins, her face shows signs of swelling. The operatives drag her in through her face first into a holding room, knocking out one of her teeth.

At that point, Brellian enters the room…” Jahrae’s outcry stops Gl’nsiel from continuing with the story.

“Brellian! He saw llhaesa? Goddess of Arrhazon, what did he do?”

“She is forced to stand in front of him, held by Brellian’s goons. Llhaesa spits at his shoes…” Jahrae again interrupts with “way to go, llhaesa!”

“…which brought a blow to her abdomen in retaliation. Brellian taunts llhaesa, and she gives it right back… Jahrae…” Gl’nsiel is on her feet, moving to sit alongside Jahrae. “Brellian and the operatives ripped off her clothing.”

Jahrae knew where this was going, and her hand moved to brush across her forehead. “The arse hole raped her, right?”

“Yes, Jahrae… he did.” Gl’nsiel stopped there for a moment, before continuing. “There is something else, Jahrae. Llhaesa fought back. And she fought back valiantly.”

“Yeah, that she would. Llhaesa was the gentlest person in the history of the universe, but dealing with that prick, in a rape, she would put up one hell of a fight. If he left his guard down, she has this move – Saehressa taught her self defence, and llhaesa later taught me as well – where she would slam her palm into the nose of an attacker, and that has to be debilitating.” Jahrae was already feeling pride mixed in with the horror. She could feel llhaesa’s rage across time and space.

“There is video of what happened, Jahrae.” Gl’nsiel blurted this out, but the time was right.

“Video? The fuckers filmed a beating and a rape?” Jahrae was on her feet now, her hands assisting in animatedly pleading her case. I need to see this video, Gl’nsiel. Now, before I lose my courage.”

“Very well. Come.” They left her office, moving to a conference room with a larger view-screen. The two watched in silence, watched as Brellian first raped llhaesa, and then llhaesa gave him a full-fledged payback, knocking him out. The screen went black, signalling the end of the recording.

“I would like to go see Brellian. What is more, I would like you to accompany me, Jahrae.” Gl’nsiel knew this would be an important step for Jahrae.

“You do not have to ask twice, because I was just about to ask you if you would join me in visiting the bastard!” Jahrae could hardly wait, not knowing that so much more lay undiscovered, so very much more.

“There is one more thing, Jahrae. No, not more story, rather what to do with this story. I would like to share some of this with all of Arrhazon, but I wish to know what we should share and what we will not share. I will honour your wishes on this matter.” Gl’nsiel knew the woman facing her had well earned this right.

“Reveal everything, Gl’nsiel. Share it all. Obviously we need to think of children and exercise appropriate discretion… but the video should be accessible by every adult on this planet.”