The address Karilan gave Eela was to a high security and very tall residential building near city center. Outside was a security gate and guard house, and a large security field, that kept people and vehicles from approaching the building and the beautiful courtyard beyond. As Eela’s slider came near, a guard stepped out and nodded. Her driver slowed and stopped and the window went down. “Good afternoon. May I help- oh! You are Lieutenant Governor Dasca’s party. Please come in.” and they smiled and waved them through.

Tall trees and lunch landscaping covered the approach to the building. Blooming flowers lent a subtle perfume to the air as the slider pulled up to the building’s entry. Large glass doors slid open as Eela and her security detail approached, and another security officer sat at a desk on the left side of the lobby. The guard stood and said “Lieutenant Governor, welcome. Mx. Massat is expecting you. Lift is at the back of the lobby.” and they gestured. “I’ll unlock it for you when you get there. Your detail is welcome to wait here after attending to your arrival, of course.”

Inside the lift there were only two buttons in the lift: one above the other. After pressing the top one, the doors closed and the lift moved quickly up the outside of the building.

The doors opened directly into a very large apartment with soft gray accents and a variety of furniture around the place… most likely pieces from Karilan’s collection. A small entry way with three wide steps down led to an open living room with large couches and chairs centered in the room to form a square around a low table that appeared to be made entirely of some kind of pale rose-colored crystal. To the far left was a large kitchen area, and a dining area was past the kitchen and left of the living room. A hall was visible on the far right side of the living room. Floor to ceiling windows walled the entirety of the living and dining rooms, and the view was almost the entirety of the city. A large balcony wrapped around the place and was set with lounge chairs and tables. They were at least eighty stories up… making the building one of the tallest in the city.

“Welcome to my home.” Karilan said as the doors opened, standing in the living room. “Please, come in.” and they looked at the Security detail. “Feel free to look anywhere you like.”

Karilan