Matsuka's plan was to contact a trusted associate and have Siobhan and her alien moved to a safe house where they could quietly review their options; first among which was the identity and agenda of the alien. Turning her over to the authorities might help ratchet down the growing hysteria and realign their fortunes. The right kind of spin could even see them emerge as national heroes. Their clan rankings would certainly skyrocket! Matsuka mused that she could be inducted into the Order of the First Families, an honor that would certainly seal her place among the elite. For this enterprise to succeed they needed the support of a powerful ally, someone inclined to see her interests as his own. Dag Sammerilyan.
Dag was Matsuka's lover. He understood the high roller lifestyle of an A- Level Mentor. For his part, Dag was a ranking officer of the Guardian Council, a task force set up by the First Families to enforce their will, protect the regime, and prevent any one Family from gaining too much advantage. If anyone could be persuaded to provide cover for Matsuka and Siobhan it was Dag.
Matsuka made contact through his secure channel. She called Siobhan to join them at the two way screen. Matsuka encouraged her to recount the events of the incident exactly as they transpired.
Afterwards, Dag assured them they had done the right thing by immediately contacting him. Together they would manage the situation, and eliminate the threat to the status quo. He gave orders to dispatch security personnel to Matsuka's island. Once there, they would quietly escort them to a protected location, and take the alien into custody.
Matsuka and Siobhan were unaware of a peculiar transformation forming in the view screen. Two focused beams of energy erupted from Dag's eyes enveloping their bodies in a bright amber light. They were transfixed in their seats as the light coalesced into a thick patina designed to smother them to death!
Dag seemed quite pleased with the progress of events.The process simulates death then, harmlessly dissipates minutes later; long enough to convince an observer that the target has suffocated to death. Following 1st Councilor Celestine's orders, a contingent of "gunslingers" (assassination drones) were en route to take out the house security drones, destroy Matsuka's estate and take the alien woman into custody. Everything was going to be spectacularly theatrical.
Suddenly, the death simulator began to break up in a blast of purple energy from the outstretched arm of the alien. Gradually, the amber coating dissipated leaving Matsuka and Siobhan in a semi conscious state.
The woman approached the distorting image of Matsuka's lover. "If you're curious as to the identity of the person who foiled your assassination I will gladly enlighten you. I am Zana-7! And Siobhan Metalahwaggon is under my personal protection!" But the image dissolved before she could finish.
