I never liked funerals much. I’ve always found something very morbid about the idea of people flocking to see a dead body (and if you ever go to a Gememese funeral, that statement is very literal). The ceremony, attended by some of the biggest names in The Zodiac, was held on ‘The Golden Isle’; a small island off the coast of Caprica, which has for many years been the site of ‘The Great Statue’. Built as a testament to @outerlocal ’s long and successful presidency, today that statue became his tomb.
As we took our seats, I spotted the person I was really here to see; Cyrus Xander. Seated between Clemens Binder, and his own protege, Grace Dominic, my suspicion of him was reignited immediately. One of Virgon’s elite, Binder had a somewhat unsavoury reputation. Amassing a fortune through his exploitation of Sagittaron workers, Binder was today the world’s leading distributor of food products. Whilst Binder’s own motivations for attending the funeral could be questioned, it was Xander’s interest in him that worried me the most.
And then my gaze moved to Miss Dominic. A woman of flowing platinum blonde hair, icy blue eyes and impressive dress sense, the name ‘Grace’ was never more applicable. There was something fascinating about her. Something unique. Whilst I could not decipher what it was that interested me, I was certain that her and Xander were a formidable team.
And then she surprised me. She sent a smile in my direction.
Was it possible she knew who I was?
The moment was disrupted by a voice over the speakers - the ceremony was about the begin. A welcomed distraction, I quickly broke off eye contact. Whilst she fascinated me, there was something about her that equally made me feel uneasy. Perhaps it was the cold, unforgiving eyes.
The next voice was all too familiar.
Priyan Magnus had almost escaped my suspicion as of late, but that didn’t mean I trusted her any more than the others. After all, now that Caprica was missing a quorum delegate, she was in charge. As she started her speech, a respectful silence fell upon the island. Whilst many chose to close their eyes as she recalled fond memories in front of the crowd, I was more interested in observing the living.
And that was when I realised that somebody had escaped my gaze. Far in the corner, hidden behind an entourage of armed men, sat Keon Greeley. I hadn’t seen Greeley since our encounter within The Tartarus, and his presence here was unexpected. Though I was without a doubt that out of everybody here, Keon had the most right to mourn, an inmate being allowed on a day trip was certainly unheard of.
As I sat and listened to the stories of Outer’s life, surrounded by familiar faces, I was reminded of the unnerving truth…
One of the people on this island was responsible for his death.
- Private notes of Rachel Blake, Reporter for The Caprican Chronicle.