The Final Contingency
8 March 2006
by Loren Dean

Shosuro Ridachi entered his suite of rooms in Bayushi Castle, ostensibly to change into rougher clothing for the day's hunt–Winter Court was becoming more dangerous with each passing day. Etsuki was there already, and met him with a smile.

"I've laid out some things for you and Korekeda, Husband," she said, bustling a bit, and adding with a wink, "and instructed the servants to bring some rice balls for you to eat as you do what you men do in the woods."

"I had an interesting conversation with Tetsujin-san just now," Ridachi said casually as he shrugged out of his pressed kimono.

"Oh? How so?"

"He told me a tale of a farmhouse on fire and a cellar filling with water."

Etsuki hesitated for only a moment, and Ridachi knew she remembered exactly what that phrase meant. It meant that a certain very specific contingency had come into play–one the two had prepared for their entire lives.

"Tetsujin-san told you this tale?" Etsuki carried on, gamely conversational. She knew that no sign could be given of the specifics of what they called between themselves the Final Contingency. Activating the contingency meant that both their lives were in grave danger, as were the lives of several others, and they needed every ounce of wit if they had any hope of dealing with the situation successfully.

"He did. Of all people," Ridachi chuckled. On some level, it felt morbid to smile over something so grave.

"And where did he learn this tale, do you suppose?" Etsuki asked, helping Ridachi shrug into hunting garb. Her hands only shook for a moment.

Ridachi took her hands. He knew exactly where Tetsujin had learned the terrible secrets now threatening everything, and knew as well that it was, in Tetsujin's paradigm, an unimpeachable source. He only hoped he had succeeded in obscuring the truth sufficiently in Tetsujin's mind that he would not have to tell his friend an outright lie.

"The source is one Tetsujin considers reliable," was all Ridachi said in answer to the question.

"And does he," she hesitated again for just a moment, then swallowed and regained her composure, "does he plan to tell his tale again?"

"He isn't certain," Ridachi replied. He embraced his wife then, and held her close, the better to whisper in her ear.

"I am doing all that can be done, my love," he breathed, for her hearing alone, "Tetsujin is a friend, but I must move very carefully. Be strong, and give no sign that anything is amiss. We will succeed."

Ridachi would succeed. The Final Contingency would be met and mastered. He could not afford to fail.